A variable displacement compressor includes a compressor housing, a rotary shaft, a lug plate, a swash plate, a hinge mechanism, a supply passage and a bleed passage. The compressor housing includes a pressure control chamber having a front region which extends between the swash plate and the lug plate, and a rear region on the opposite side of the swash plate as viewed from the lug plate. The rotary shaft has an axial bleed passage which forms part of the bleed passage and an inlet which is in communication with the axial bleed passage and opened to the front region of the pressure control chamber. At least one of the swash plate and the rotary shaft has a communication passage. The front region and the rear region of the pressure control chamber are in communication with each other through the communication passage.