Rare　earth　metals　are　strategic　resources　with　potential　applications　in　optics,　metallurgy　and　catalysis.　In　recent　years,　single-atom　site　catalysts　(SASCs)　have　attracted　increasing　attention　owing　to　their　100%　atom　efficiency　and　unique　catalytic　performances.　Over　the　past　decade,　rare　earth　elements,　including　rare　earth　metals　and　their　oxides,　have　shown　great　potential　in　SASCs.　However,　systematic　analyses　of　data　are　still　handful.　In　this　mini-review,　the　use　of　rare　earth　metals　and　their　oxides　in　SASCs　was　summarized　and　the　results　are　discussed.　A　particular　focus　was　paid　to　the　synthetic　strategies,　characterization　of　rare　earth-containing　SASCs,　and　applications　as　catalysis　supports,　promoters　and　active　sites.　Current　issues　faced　by　rare-earth　metals　and　their　oxides　in　SASCs,　as　well　as　future　prospects　were　also　provided.　(C)　2020　Chinese　Society　of　Rare　Earths.　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.