A photographing optical lens assembly includes seven lens elements which are, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element, a sixth lens element and a seventh lens element. The first lens element has negative refractive power. The third lens element has positive refractive power. The fourth lens element has negative refractive power. The sixth lens element has an image-side surface being convex in a paraxial region thereof. The seventh lens element with negative refractive power has an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof. The image-side surface of the seventh lens element has at least one critical point in an off-axis region thereof. There is an air gap in a paraxial region between all adjacent lens elements of the seven lens elements.