<p>Accounting for the third-largest share of global nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions, paddy fields are a major source of this potent greenhouse gas, with emissions driven primarily by denitrification. N₂O emissions may contribute to both ozone layer depletion and global warming, and pose substantial threats to public health and agricultural sustainability. Therefore, elucidating the microbial communities and their associated N₂O emission pathways in paddy ecosystems is an urgent scientific priority. This manuscript identified the denitrifying microbial taxa responsible for N₂O emissions across multiple taxonomic levels, from phylum to genus. Critically, while key genera such as <i>Pseudomonas</i>, <i>Bacillus</i>, and <i>Paracoccus</i> within the phyla Pseudomonadota and Actinomycetota are highlighted, these represented only the confirmed denitrifying members within their respective phyla. The underlying mechanisms of nitrogen loss mediated by the denitrifying microorganisms in paddy soils, along with the factors influencing nitrate removal and N₂O flux, were carefully elucidated. A comparative analysis of both N₂O emissions and denitrifying microbial community distribution in paddy fields across different countries and regions was presented. The relationships between specific microbial groups and N₂O emission patterns were discussed. Based on these findings, this paper proposed targeted mitigation strategies aimed at suppressing the growth and activity of denitrifying microorganisms, including optimizing fertilizer application methods and improving irrigation technologies, to reduce N₂O emissions. Future research directions in this field are also outlined. Collectively, this review intends to provide references for mitigating climate change and promoting sustainable agricultural development.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>