Preparedness is a core concept in disaster research, encompassing proactive actions and strategies to enhance an individual’s, community’s, or organization’s ability to respond to and recover from a disaster. This bibliometric study utilized the Scopus database to analyze the growth, trends, development patterns, and hotspots in disaster preparedness research worldwide. Bibliometric tools such as VOSviewer, Publish or Perish, and ArcGIS were employed to analyze the data. A total of 3,578 papers on disaster preparedness published between 1951 and 2024 were retrieved, covering 126 nations or territories, 8,675 institutions, 1,349 journals, and 11,369 authors. The analysis indicated that disaster preparedness research is shaped by a core of scholarly journals, influential authors, and major institutions, demonstrating established knowledge hubs that drive the field of study. Moreover, significant advancements in disaster preparedness have been driven by global participation, yet enduring inequalities persist, as research output remains focused on high-income countries, while input from lower- and middle-income countries remains remarkably limited. The research underscores the critical need for increased international cooperation in this field and emphasizes the importance of developing international research networks, particularly involving low- and middle-income nations. Prominent research priorities in disaster preparedness included social aspects, disaster/emergency management, healthcare, and public health. In addition, the review found a significant shift in focus from technical issues to more human aspects of disaster preparedness. The findings of this review are expected to aid researchers in understanding the current state of disaster preparedness and to provide guidance for future investigations.