Nickel minerals were traditional dominant minerals in China but with the present reliance on imports have become typical critical minerals. Based on the geological big data on nickel deposits, this study systematically analyzed the availability of nickel deposits in China and the world, summarized their temporal- spatial distribution, quantitatively analyzed the metallogenic density, and intensity of nickel deposits at various county, city, provincial levels, Ⅲmetallogenic belt and the metallogenic epoch. The results show that the nickel resources in China are abundant and concentrated, and have high exploitation potential. The main type is magmatic type and the metallogenic period was late Paleozoic. The nickel deposits in China are divided into 30 nickel- forming belts including 12 important, and 18 general belts, 18 identified nickel deposits, and metallogenic series with 23 sub- series. Deep prospecting, western prospecting, existing mines with prospecting potential, deep, edge and periphery of mines with high metallogenic intensity are the key areas for nickel deposit prospecting in the future. Ideas for future nickel resources investigation and industrial development are proposed.