Environmental　problems,　especially　increasing　atmospheric　pollution,　are　urgently　prompting　new　strategies　to　assist　in　sustainable　development.　Many　studies　have　demonstrated　that　oxygen　vacancies　(OVs)　play　an　important　role　in　the　degradation　of　gaseous　pollutants　by　modulating　the　surface　and　electronic　structure　of　catalysts.　To　clarify　the　oxygen　vacancy　effect,　this　paper　reviews　recent　research　advances　in　improving　the　performance　of　catalysts　for　the　degradation　of　gaseous　pollutants　based　on　controlling　OVs.　The　constitutive　relationship　between　OVs　and　performance　in　the　degradation　of　typical　gaseous　pollutants　is　elucidated.　Various　approaches　for　generating　and　characterizing　OVs　in　catalysts　are　also　summarized.　Finally,　some　perspectives　on　the　challenges　and　future　opportunities　for　the　development　of　oxygen-deficient　catalysts　are　discussed.　This　review　is　significant　for　the　study　of　the　reaction　mechanism　of　OVs　with　gaseous　pollutants　and　the　design　of　efficient　catalysts.