Objective To explore the risk factors the central cervical lymph node micrometastasis of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). Methods PTMC patients who underwent surgical operations in West China Hospital, Sichuan University between January 2014 and December 2018 were retrospectively enrolled. The patient did not find lymph node metastasis in the central cervical area by preoperative ultrasound. During the operation, the central cervical lymph node of the affected side was dissected or lymph node dissection in the central area of the affected side of the neck plus the lateral area of the neck. With postoperative pathology as the gold standard, patients were divided into central cervical lymph node micrometastasis group (micrometastasis group) and central cervical lymph node non-metastasis group (non-metastasis group). The differences of clinical features and ultrasonic signs between the two groups were analyzed. Results A total of 507 patients were included, including 223 (44.0%) in the micrometastasis group and 284(56.0%) in the non-metastasis group. The results of univariate analysis showed that compared with the non-metastasis group, the patients in the micrometastasis group were younger, the tumor size were higher, the proportion of male, multifocality, bilateral involvement and thyroid capsular invasion were higher. The results of multiple logistic regression analysis showed that lower age [odds radio (OR)=0.967, 95% confidence interval (CI)(0.949, 0.985), P<0.001], male [OR=2.357, 95%CI (1.503, 3.694), P<0.001)], a larger maximum diameter of PTMC [OR=1.232, 95%CI (1.100, 1.379), P<0.001], a larger nodule volume of PTMC [OR=1.031, 95%CI (1.008, 1.114), P=0.032], multifocal lesion [OR=2.309, 95%CI (1.167, 4.570), P=0.016] and invasion of the thyroid capsule [OR=1.520, 95%CI (1.010, 2.286), P=0.045] were independent risk factors for central cervical lymph node micrometastasis. Conclusions The patient’s male, young age, PTMC nodule with large maximum diameter and large volume, multifocal, and invasion of the thyroid membrane are risk factors for the central cervical lymph node micrometastasis of PMTC patients. These clinical and ultrasound signs can provide a theoretical basis for doctors’ clinical management decisions.