Provided are a small wire-wound inductor having desired inductor characteristics, while allowing for high-density mounting and low-height mounting on circuit boards at the same time, as well as a method for manufacturing such wire-wound inductor which has a drum-shaped core member constituted by an assembly of soft magnetic alloy grains containing iron (Fe), silicon (Si) and 2 to 15 percent by weight of chromium (Cr), a coil conductive wire wound around the core member, a pair of terminal electrodes connected to the terminals of the coil conductive wire, and an outer sheath member covering the wound coil conductive wire and constituted by a magnetic powder-containing resin having a specified magnetic permeation ratio.