The present invention provides a linear pattern detection method which can extract and detect linear patterns distinguished by a microscopic defect distribution profile even if skipped measurements are taken. The linear pattern detection method acquires a defect map created based on results of defect inspection of a wafer; divides the defect map into a plurality of first segments; calculates a correlation coefficient of a point sequence in each of the first segments, the point sequence corresponding to a defect group contained in the first segments; calculates a total number of those first segments in which the correlation coefficient is equal to or larger than a first threshold; and determines that the wafer contains a linear pattern if the total number is equal to or larger than a second threshold.