Provided are a carbon powder which can provide a catalyst exhibiting high performance and a catalyst. A carbon powder for fuel cell comprising carbon as a main component, which has a ratio (B/A) of an area B of peak 1 to an area A of peak 0 of more than 0 and 0.15 or less, wherein the area A represents an area of peak 0 at a position of 2θ=22.5° to 25° as observed by XRD analysis when the carbon powder for fuel cell is subjected to heat treatment at 1800° C. for 1 hour in an inert atmosphere, and the area B represents an area of peak 1 at a position of 2θ=26° as observed by XRD analysis when the carbon powder for fuel cell is subjected to heat treatment at 1800° C. for 1 hour in an inert atmosphere.