An electrode active material for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes: a core part including at least one of an inorganic oxide and a carbon-composite inorganic composite oxide; and a shell part for carbon coating on the core part. The electrode active material has a specific surface area of 6.0 m2/g or more. The electrode active material has a moisture content of 400 ppm or less, which is measured by a Karl Fischer method such that the electrode active material is heated in a heat-evaporating manner, and continuously maintained at 250° C. for 40 minutes without exposing to an atmosphere after the electrode active material is exposed to the atmosphere to absorb moisture to be saturated.