Metal-organic framework (MOF) based single-atom catalysts (SACs) with distinctive features are emerging extraordinary materials in the electrochemical field in the latest years. MOF has the virtues of functional tunability, high surface areas, and well-defined pores structures, while SAC possesses the advantages of maximum atom utilization, special electronic characteristics, and quantum size effects. By combining the merits of both, MOF-based SACs exhibit huge potential in electrocatalytic CO 2 reduction reactions (CO 2 RR) and, more generally, in the field of electroreduction reactions. In this review, the diverse fabrication strategies and principles of MOF-based SACs, including MOF-immobilized SACs and MOF-derived SACs, and the corresponding representative samples of each strategy are systematically introduced and summarized. Then, insights into the mechanisms and pathways of electrochemical CO 2 RR are discussed. In addition, we illustrate elaborately the recent progress of MOF-derived SACs for electrocatalytic CO 2 RR to valuable chemicals/fuels according to the classification of catalytic products, C 1 , C 2 , and C 2+ species. At last, the current challenges and future development directions of MOF-based SACs toward electrochemical CO 2 RR are proposed. We hope that this review would be helpful in rational designing MOF-based SACs with higher efficiency, selectivity, and long-term durability for the electrocatalytic CO 2 RR and/or a wider range of electrochemical applications in the future. [Display omitted] • Fabrication strategies for MOF-based single atom catalysts (SACs) are summarized. • The mechanisms and pathways of electrochemical CO 2 RR are discussed. • MOF-derived SACs for electrochemical CO 2 RR to valuable chemicals are illustrated. • The perspectives of MOF-based SACs for electrochemical CO 2 RR are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]