Shown are a liquid crystal composition satisfying at least one of characteristics such as high maximum temperature, low minimum temperature, small viscosity, suitable optical anisotropy and large negative dielectric anisotropy, or the liquid crystal composition having a suitable balance regarding at least two of the characteristics; and an AM device including the composition. The liquid crystal composition contains a specific compound having small optical anisotropy as a first component, and a specific compound having large negative dielectric anisotropy as a second component, and may contain a specific compound having high maximum temperature or small viscosity as a third component, or a specific compound having a polymerizable group as an additive.