A membrane electrode assembly for fuel cell that maintains the moistness of polymeric electrolyte membrane even under low humidification condition or high temperature condition, or in high current density region, exhibiting excellent output performance. Further, there is provided a fuel cell including the above assembly.The membrane electrode assembly for fuel cell and fuel cell is one including a polymeric electrolyte membrane containing at least one type of proton conductive polymer; a fuel electrode disposed on one major surface of the polymeric electrolyte membrane; and an oxidizer electrode disposed on the other major surface of the polymeric electrolyte membrane, characterized in that the polymeric electrolyte membrane exhibits different hydrophilicities on the two opposite major surfaces thereof, and that when the side with relatively high hydrophilicity is referred to as a first surface while the side with relatively low hydrophilicity is referred to as a second surface, the fuel electrode is disposed on the first surface of the polymeric electrolyte membrane and the oxidizer electrode disposed on the second surface thereof. The provided fuel cell is one having the above assembly.