A photographing optical lens assembly includes, 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 and a fifth lens element. The first lens element with positive refractive power has a convex object-side surface. The second lens element with negative refractive power has a concave image-side surface. The third lens element with positive refractive power has a convex object-side surface and a convex image-side surface. The fourth lens element with refractive power has a convex object-side surface and a concave image-side surface, wherein the surfaces thereof are aspheric. The fifth lens element with refractive power has a convex object-side surface, and an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof and having at least one convex shape in an off-axial region thereof, wherein the surfaced thereof are aspheric.