A membrane-electrode assembly including a catalyst layer that includes a catalyst-supporting carrier in which a catalyst is supported on a carrier made of an inorganic oxide, and a highly hydrophobic substance having a higher degree of hydrophobicity than the inorganic oxide, the catalyst layer being formed on at least one surface of a polymer electrolyte membrane. It is preferable that, in the membrane-electrode assembly, the degree of hydrophobicity of the highly hydrophobic substance is from 0.5 vol % to 45 vol % at 25° C., the degree of hydrophobicity being defined as a concentration of methanol (vol %) when a light transmittance of a dispersion obtained by dispersing the highly hydrophobic substance in a mixed solution of water and methanol reaches 80%.