Due to many uncertainties in safety evaluation of hyd raulic steel gates, it is necessary that the safety evaluation and life prediction of hydraulic steel gates are conducted using the reliability theory. Therefore the importance of reliability analysis for hydraulic steel gates is clarified from reliability-based code revision, and reliability-based safety evaluation and life prediction for hydraulic steel gates. Based on the characteristics of reliability evaluation and a review of reliability analysis for hydraulic gates, a flow chart of reliability analysis for hydraulic steel gates is proposed. More over the recent advances and main results of reliability analysis for hydraulic steel gates are introduced from safety including load parameters, resistance par ameters, reliability calibration and determination of partial factors and relia bility analysis of dynamic behaviour for hydraulic gates, and from serviceabilit y and durability including safety evaluation and life prediction for existing hy draulic steel gates, and fatigue reliability evaluation of hydraulic steel gates . Some key problems are pointed out for reliability analysis of hydraulic steel gates.