Due to the emissions from intensive human activities and rapid development of industry and agriculture, atmospheric nitrate (NO ${}_3^{-}$ ) contamination is becoming more serious and now is a worldwide environmental problem. The isotopic compositions of NO ${}_3^{-}$ (δ¹⁵N, δ¹⁸O and Δ¹⁷O) can deliver more information than the concentration alone, i.e., the nitrogen and oxygen isotopes can suggest the sources of NO ${}_3^{-}$ and oxidation capability of the atmosphere, providing a powerful tool for investigating atmospheric nitrogen cycling and atmospheric NO ${}_3^{-}$ pollution control. The δ¹⁵N of different sourced NO ${}_3^{-}$ in the atmosphere, as well as the seasonal variation of δ¹⁵N (NO ${}_3^{-}$ ) and the associated mechanisms were reviewed. In addition, the oxygen isotopes of various oxidants and NO ${}_3^{-}$ (δ¹⁸O and Δ¹⁷O) in the atmosphere were summarized, and the global distribution patterns of the oxygen isotopes of NO ${}_3^{-}$ were discussed. Lastly, the available analysis techniques of isotopic compositions of NO ${}_3^{-}$ were reviewed. Based on the research progress of NO ${}_3^{-}$ isotopes in the atmosphere, it was suggested that further investigations should focus on measuring the isotopic compositions of oxidants and NOx from different sources, characterizing the production mechanisms of NO ${}_3^{-}$ , as well as investigating chemical recycling between NOx and NO ${}_3^{-}$ with the aid of atmospheric chemical models.