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 negative refractive power has a concave image-side surface. The second lens element with negative refractive power has a concave image-side surface. The third lens element has positive refractive power. The fourth lens element with positive refractive power has a convex image-side surface, wherein two surfaces of the fourth lens element are both aspheric. The fifth lens element with negative refractive power has a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface, wherein two surfaces of the fifth lens element are both aspheric.