This coloring composition containing a xanthene-based dye is represented by general formula (1), and a coloring agent, which is for a color filter and contains the coloring composition containing the xanthene-based dye and having number of diffraction peaks of 0 in a range of 3°-7° of a diffraction angle (2ɵ) in a powder X-ray diffraction of CuKα radiation, provides a color filter having a high display contrast ratio.