An infrared moving target detection method based on time-space domain saliency analysis and sparse representation comprises the following steps: using a sparse representation approach to smooth sub areas obtained by coarsely segmenting an infrared sequence image, and extracting and combining the contrast characteristic and local transcendental characteristic of each sub area to get a saliency map corresponding to the infrared sequence image; and segmenting the saliency map and filtering out pseudo target areas according to a preset threshold and a morphological approach to get an infrared target image. According to the invention, the problem that the edge of an extracted target blurs is well solved, the need of an infrared monitoring system for quick and accurate detection of ground moving targets is satisfied, and the method has high adaptability and a good detection effect.