Quantitative stratigraphy is a relatively new branch of stratigraphy that has developed in the past 15 years. It is the product of the marriage of the principle of stratigraphy, statistical methods and modern computer technique. This paper reviews the development of quantitative stratigraphy, discusses some properties of its object (stratigraphic time-series), explains its major objectives. Some most widely used quantitative methods in biostratigraphy, chronostratigraphy and lithostrati-graphy as well as their advantages and geological applications are introduced briefly