Provided is a porous metal body manufacturing method by which a flow rate of a fluid flowing in an axial direction and a radial direction of the porous metal body can be equalized in the circumferential direction of the porous metal body, and a strength of the porous metal body can be increased, and a porous metal body. This porous metal body manufacturing method comprises at least a preparation step (S10) of preparing an intermediary body made of a tubular wire mesh, a star-shaped polygonal body forming step (S20) of forming a star-shaped polygonal body by alternately forming, in a circumferential direction of the intermediary body, a plurality of protrusions protruding radially outwards and a plurality of recesses receding radially inwards, and a molding step (S40) of inserting the star-shaped polygonal body into a mold that restricts an inner peripheral side and an outer peripheral side of the star-shaped polygonal body and compressing the star-shaped polygonal body from one side in an axial direction of the star-shaped polygonal body. This porous metal body is manufactured by the aforementioned porous metal body manufacturing method.