Denitrification and anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) are two important nitrogen removal pathways that convert reactive nitrogen into dinitrogen gas. Here, we construct a global database on actual nitrogen loss rates, covering over 30 years of observations, measured in coastal and marine sediments. This work provides a global overview of the biogeography and potential controlling factors of denitrification and anammox and highlights the potential applications of this database.