This study aims to explore the knowledge base on strain theory using science mapping by examining the study areas available that have built upon the Merton's strain theory. The analysis was based on all the articles that were generated by the search "Strain Theory" on SCOPUS database. After data screening, this study managed to get a total of 772 articles which were used for further analysis. Tools such as Microsoft Excel was used to conduct the frequency analysis, VOSViewer for data visualization and Harzing's Publish or Perish for citation metric and analysis. Based on the findings, most of the subject areas which used strain theory include psychology, social sciences and medicine. authors and institutions from the United States ranked the highest in publications and citations. Finally, areas such as delinquencies and victimizations were addressed by strain theory as well as the influences of the structural imbalances on people behaviours such as the self-destructive which include depression, suicide, and societal destructive behaviours which include crimes, abuse and bullying. Some areas which can be addressed using strain theory are lacking in publications such as employees deviant behvaiors. Future studies can also conduct researches in African and Asian/Arab context, as these countries have few publications based on strain theory.