The research progress of the corrosion behavior of magnesium alloy in the marine atmospheric environment was reviewed and summarized in this present literature. The current research progress was concluded, and some perspectives on future research directions were given. In the marine atmospheric environment, the electrochemical reaction of magnesium alloy under the coating of thin electrolyte layer on the surface is prone to localized corrosion, and is also susceptible to the influence of environmental factors. Compared to the inland atmospheric environment, the marine atmosphere is rich in aerosol particles, which promote serious pitting corrosion of magnesium alloys. Higher relative humidity can increase the thickness of thin electrolyte layer, resulting in higher atmospheric corrosion rate of the alloy. Meanwhile, the atmospheric corrosion rate of magnesium alloy increases linearly with the increase of temperature. CO₂ in the air can inhibit the erosion of NaCl on magnesium alloys. Future research in this field may focus on the revelation of corrosion mechanism in specific environment and the synergistic effect of various environmental factors on corrosion behavior, so as to guide the design and preparation of marine magnesium alloy materials.