Abstract: A simple clustering algorithm is used in niching particle swarm optimization(PSO) to replace the circular topological field based method for creating niche,and a clustering-based niching PSO is constructed. In the new algorithm,l-best PSO and a clustering algorithm are processed synchronously.When the number of particles in a cluster reaches the defined least particle number of a subswarm,a niche is formed based on this cluster.This algorithm can overcome the disadvantages of NichePSO by forming niches with different sizes and shapes.