The nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprises the following: a positive electrode including a positive electrode active material that includes a lithium-containing transition metal oxide, a negative electrode including a negative electrode current collector wherein lithium metal deposits on the negative electrode current collector during charging, a separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a nonaqueous electrolyte. The molar ratio of the total amount of lithium held by the positive electrode and the negative electrode to the amount of transition metal in the positive electrode is not more than 1.1. In addition, in the discharged state, a space layer is present between the negative electrode and the separator, and the positive electrode capacity per unit area, α (mAh/cm2), of the positive electrode and the average in thickness, X (μm), of the space layer 50 satisfy 0.05≤α/X≤0.2.