Status epilepticus (SE) is a severe medical condition. To determine its epidemiology and outcome of SE, we performed a meta-analysis to investigate the etiology, incidence and mortality of SE. We searched PubMed and Embase between Jan 1, 2000, and Oct 31, 2016, with no regional restrictions, for observational studies of the etiology, incidence and mortality of SE. Forty-three studies were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled crude annual incidence rate, the pooled case fatality rate and the pooled crude annual mortality rate of SE were 12.6/100,000 (95% CI: 10.0-15.3), 14.9% (95% CI: 11.7-118.7) and 0.98/100,000 (95% CI: 0.74-1.22), respectively. Elderly subjects with SE had a higher case fatality rate (28.4% (95% CI: 17.7-42.3)) and crude annual incidence rate (27.1% (95% CI: 15.8-38.2)). The most important etiology-specific attributable fraction of patients with SE was acute symptomatic etiology (OR 0.411, 95% CI: 0.315-0.507). Age and economic income contributed to differences in SE incidence and short-term case fatality rate.