Objectives To understand the distribution level and health risk of disinfection by-products of drinking water in cities of China, and to provide references for drinking water safety management. Methods By systematically searching the literatures published from 2009 to 2019, the effective data were extracted and the exposure levels of disinfection by-products of drinking water in China was statistically analyzed. The health risk assessment model recommended by EPA was used to conduct risk assessments on THMs and HAAs disinfection by-products. Results The levels of various disinfection by-products were as follows: trihalomethane > haloacetic acid > haloacetonitrile > chloral hydrate > haloketones > nitrosamines. The main disinfection by-products in drinking water in southern China were higher than those in northern China. The total amount of disinfection by-products produced by liquid chlorine disinfection was higher than other disinfection methods. Conclusion The carcinogenic risk of various disinfection by-products in domestic urban drinking water was higher than the acceptable EPA level (1×10^-6 ). Sodium hypochlorite disinfection instead of liquid chlorine disinfection was able to effectively reduce the health risk of disinfection by-products to humans. The health risk of the exposure to pollutants in drinking water was higher in children than in adults, which should be taken into special consideration