Solar direct pumped solid-state lasers (SDPSSL) utilize solar energy as the pump source to directly convert sunlight into lasing output. These lasers have advantages such as simple structure, stable performance and being environmental friendly, which have great potential for applications in scientific research, industry and national defense. At first, the working principles and gain materials of solar direct pumped solid-state lasers are introduced. And then, the laser output power characteristics of solar directly pumped solid-state lasers are mainly reported at three different development stages. At last, the problems of current solar direct pumped solid-state lasers are analyzed, and the development prospects of the laser are discussed.