With the increasing demand for long period and high fuel consumption in commercial reactors, fuel pellets would face to more severe service conditions. Further improve the properties of uranium dioxide fuel is the key problem in the development of new nuclear fuel elements. Based on the progress in doped fuel pellets in recent years, this paper systematically discusses the types of doped elements and their influence on the performance of uranium dioxide fuel pellets, expounds the relationship between the microstructure and performance of doped fuel, and points out the existing problems and development trend for doped uranium dioxide fuel. The results would provide valuable references for promoting development of the safety performance of fuel pellets.