A rechargeable lithium battery including an electrolyte including a non-aqueous organic solvent, a lithium salt, and an additive; positive electrode including a positive electrode active material; and a negative electrode including a negative electrode active material, wherein the non-aqueous organic solvent includes less than about 5 wt% of ethylene carbonate based on the total weight of the non-aqueous organic solvent, the positive electrode active material includes a lithium nickel manganese-based oxide, and the additive includes a compound represented by Chemical Formula 1.