According to one embodiment, there is provided a nonaqueous electrolyte battery. The nonaqueous electrolyte battery includes a negative electrode, a positive electrode, and a nonaqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode includes a nickel-cobalt-manganese composite oxide represented by a composition formula Li1-aNixCoyMnzO2. Subscripts x, y, and z satisfy an inequality 0.1≦x/(y+z)≦1.3, and subscript a satisfies 0≦a≦1. A ratio AS/ANi of an S atom abundance ratio AS to an Ni atom abundance ratio ANi of a surface of the positive electrode is 0.4 to 5. A ratio p/n of a capacity p of the positive electrode to a capacity n of the negative electrode is within a range of 1.2 to 2.