A photographing optical lens assembly includes six 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 and a sixth lens element. Each of the six lens elements has an object-side surface facing toward the object side and an image-side surface facing toward the image side. The first lens element has positive refractive power. The second lens element has negative refractive power. The third lens element has negative refractive power. The fourth lens element has negative refractive power. The fifth lens element has positive refractive power. The sixth lens element has negative refractive power. An axial distance between the fourth lens element and the fifth lens element is larger than an axial distance between the fifth lens element and the sixth lens element.