An attitude estimation method for an on-orbit three-dimensional space object comprises an offline feature library construction step and an online attitude estimation step. The offline feature library construction step comprises: according to a space object three-dimensional model, acquiring multi-viewpoint characteristic views of the object, and extracting geometrical features therefrom to form a geometrical feature library, where the geometrical features comprise an object main body height-width ratio, an object longitudinal symmetry, an object horizontal symmetry, and an object main-axis inclination angle. The online attitude estimation step comprises: preprocessing an on-orbit object image to be tested and extracting features, and matching the extracted features in the geometrical feature library, where an object attitude characterized by a characteristic view corresponding to a matching result is an attitude estimation result. A dimension scale and position relationship between various components of an object are accurately acquired in a three-dimensional modeling stage, thereby ensuring subsequent relatively high matching precision. An attitude estimation system for an on-orbit three-dimensional space object is also provided.