A positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery that can improve the cycle characteristic and discharge rate characteristic of the lithium secondary battery is provided. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the positive electrode active material for the lithium secondary battery has a layered structure, and contains a particle of a lithium metal composite oxide containing Li, Ni, and a specific element X, the particle contains a secondary particle which is an aggregate of primary particles, and containing a phosphorus element on the surface or on the surface and inside of the secondary particle, a value of XPS(P)/XPS(Li) is more than 0 and less than 0.2, a peak is present at 2θ=21 to 25° in a powder X-ray diffraction pattern, and an amount of lithium eluted obtained by a neutralization titration method is less than 0.20 wt %.