A liquid crystal composition having at least one or a suitable balance regarding at least two of characteristics such as high maximum temperature, low minimum temperature, small viscosity, suitable optical anisotropy, large negative dielectric anisotropy, large specific resistance and high stability to ultraviolet light and heat is described; an AM device having characteristics such as short response time, a large voltage holding ratio, low threshold voltage, a large contrast ratio and a long service life. The liquid crystal composition has negative dielectric anisotropy and contains a specific compound having large negative dielectric anisotropy as a first component and a specific compound having small viscosity as a second component, and the composition may contain a specific compound having high maximum temperature or small viscosity as a third component, a specific compound having negative dielectric anisotropy as a fourth component or a specific compound having a polymerizable group as an additive component.