The invention relates to the technical field of catalysts, and discloses a heteropolyacid catalyst as well as a preparation method and application thereof. The roundness P of the heteropolyacid catalyst is more than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 0.8, meanwhile, the stacking density rho of the heteropolyacid catalyst is limited, and the relationship between the roundness P and the average
radius Ravg is more than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 0.95, namely (2 * rho * P) / Ravg; the catalyst can be efficiently stacked and arranged in the tube
nest of the reactor, so that the catalyst is arranged more tightly, channeling and reverse mixing of feed gas among catalyst particles are effectively reduced, the
utilization rate of methylacrolein can be increased in the reaction of producing
methacrylic acid by oxidizing methylacrolein, and meanwhile, the occurrence of excessive reaction is reduced; therefore, the catalyst can keep high methylacrolein conversion rate and
methacrylic acid selectivity at the same time. Meanwhile, the specific structure of the outer surface of the catalyst can enable the catalyst to obtain good
mechanical strength, the
cracking and crushing conditions of the catalyst are reduced, and the service life of the catalyst is prolonged.