Yield-scaled nitrous oxide (N2O) emission (YSNE) has been recognized as a means for developing appropriate nitrogen (N) management strategies to balance food security and mitigating N2O emissions. To better understand and use the concept of YSNE, it is essential to be assessed under various field conditions. The main objectives of this study were to assess the relationship between N inputs and YSNE with published results and identify response patterns of YSNE to N inputs. We assessed the relationship between N inputs and YSNE using published results encompassing 1800 observations (published from 1980 to 2020) from maize, rice, and wheat crops worldwide. Background yield-scaled N2O emission (BYSNE; a YSNE in the condition of zero N input) was significantly different by crop type. Rice (90.8 ± 12.9 g N2O−N Mg−1) had lower BYSNE compared to maize (174.2 ± 30.1 g N2O−N Mg−1) and wheat (325.4 ± 41.8 g N2O−N Mg−1). BYSNE was positively correlated with annual mean temperature in maize, rice, and wheat fields. BYSNE was negatively correlated with soil total nitrogen contents in rice fields. Over 60% data set showed a positive relationship between N inputs and YSNE in all three crops studied. A small proportion of the dataset had an optimum N rate that minimized YSNE. The results suggest that in general, lower N input rates result in lower YSNE in crop production. YSNE can be reduced in three ways: increasing yields (Type 1), reducing N2O emissions (Type 2), and both increasing yields and reducing N2O emissions (Type 3). To identify appropriate measures, we suggest a N2O emission-yield curve combining responses of yields and N2O emissions to N inputs. In type 1, 2, and 3 measures, an N2O emission-yield curve is shifted to the right, down, and both right and down, respectively. Through identifying direction and magnitude of the shifting, the effects of applied measures on yields and N2O emission in N input levels can be easily compared and recognized. This study provided insights into the nature of YSNE and how YSNE responds to N inputs. It also suggested an N2O emission-yield curve, which can be useful to identify how certain measures affect both N2O emissions and crop yields. The information can be useful for scientific community and policymakers developing appropriate N management strategies to balance food security and the mitigation of N2O emissions. Display omitted •Background yield-scaled N2O emission (BYSNE) varied by crop type.•BYSNE was positively correlated with annual mean temperature.•Over 60% data sets showed consistently lower yield-scaled N2O emission as N input decreased.•N2O emissionyield curve showed the effects of mitigation measures on both yields and N2O emission.