Objective: To systematically assess the short- and long-term efficacy and safety of laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) and open liver resection (OLR) for liver cancer. Methods: The case-controlled studies comparing LLR and OLR for liver cancer were collected by searching the relevant databases covering scholarly journals, materials, conference proceedings, and dissertations. Data from selected studies were analyzed according to the MOOSE guidelines. After data extraction, a Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. Results: Fifteen case-controlled studies were finally included, involving 1 246, with 499 cases in LLR group and 747 cases in OLR group. The results of Meta-analysis showed that there was no significant difference between LLR group and OLR group in operative time, 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rate, 1-, 3-, and 5-year disease-free survival rate and 3-year recurrence rate (all P>0.05), while the intraoperative blood loss, incidence of postoperative complications, perioperative mortality and length of postoperative hospital stay were significantly reduced in LLR group compared with OLR group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: LLR offers the same radical resection for liver cancer as does OLR, with a similar short- and long-term efficacy but reduced perioperative adverse events.