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We investigated the factors influencing the progression of the pandemic from a global perspective by using the Geodetector and Correlation methods and explored the pandemic response policies and effects in different countries. The results yielded three notable findings. First, empirical results show the COVID-19 pandemic is influenced by various factors, including demographic and economic parameters, international travelers, urbanization ratio, urban population, etc. Among them, the correlation between urban population and confirmed cases is strongest. Cities become the key factor affecting the COVID-19 pandemic, with high urbanization levels and population mobility increases the risk of large-scale outbreaks. Second, among control measures, School-closures, International-travel-restrictions, and Public-gathering-restriction have the best control effect on the epidemic. In addition, the combination of different types of control measures is more effective in controlling the outbreak, especially for Public-gathering-restrictions ∩ School-closures, International-travel-restrictions ∩ Workplace-closures, Public-transport-restrictions ∩ International-travel-restrictions. Third, implementing appropriate control measures in the first month of an outbreak played a critical role in future pandemic trends. Since there are few local cases in this period and the control measures have an obvious effect. • Analysis the evolution and control of COVID-19 pandemic from global perspective. • The pandemic has been most severe in countries with high urbanization proportion, large urban populations. • The pandemic evolution is influenced by population, economic, urban, mobility characteristics and policy control factors. • School-closures, International-travel-restrictions, and Public-gathering-restriction have the best control effect. • The combination of different types of control measures is more effective in controlling the outbreak. • Corresponding control measures in the first month of the outbreak plays an important role in future trends of the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]