Flooding is a global threat, necessitating a comprehensive management approach. Due to the complexity of managing flood hazards and risks, researchers have advocated for holistic, comprehensive, and integrated approaches. This study, employing a systems thinking perspective, assessed global flood risk management research trends, gaps, and opportunities using 132 published documents in BibTeX format. A systematic review of downloaded documents from the Scopus and Web of Science databases revealed slow progress of approximately 11.61% annual growth in applying systems thinking and its concomitant approaches to understanding global flood risk management over the past two decades compared to other fields like water resource management and business management systems. A significant gap exists in the application of systems thinking methodologies to flood risk management research between developed and developing countries, particularly in Africa, highlighting the urgency of reoriented research and policy efforts. The application gaps of the study methodology are linked to challenges outlined in existing literature, such as issues related to technical expertise and resource constraints. This study advocates a shift from linear to holistic approaches in flood risk management, aligned with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2023 and the Sustainable Development Goals. Collaboration among researchers, institutions, and countries is essential to address this global challenge effectively.