A nitrous oxide (N2O) removal catalyst composite is described, which includes: a N2O removal catalytic material on a carrier, wherein the catalytic material comprises a platinum group metal (PGM) component on a ceria-containing support having a single phase, cubic fluorite crystal structure. The catalytic material is effective to decompose nitrous oxide (N2O) to nitrogen (N2) and oxygen (O2) and/or to reduce N2O to N2 and water (H2O) and/or (CO2) under conditions of an exhaust stream of an internal combustion engine operating under conditions that are stoichiometric or lean with periodic rich transient excursions. Methods of making and using the same are also provided.