The object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a cell population comprising mesenchymal stem cells having a high specific growth rate which are useful for promptly producing large amounts of cell formulations. The present invention provides a method for producing a cell population comprising mesenchymal stem cells, comprising: a step of treating a cell population comprising mesenchymal stem cells having different proliferative ability by physical stimulation or chemical stimulation, so as to select mesenchymal stem cells having relatively high proliferative ability, wherein the selected mesenchymal stem cells having relatively high proliferative ability are negative for CD106, and the expression level of a metallothionein family gene is increased in comparison to the expression level thereof in the cell population before the treatment by the physical stimulation or chemical stimulation.