The present invention provides a developing method which comprises transferring a two-component developer comprising a magnetic carrier and a toner from a sleeve to a development area and developing a latent electrostatic image on a latent electrostatic image-carrier in the development area, wherein the development conditions in the development area are prescribed so as to satisfy the formulae (1) and (2):140 .gtoreq.R.times.(S/D).gtoreq.50 (1)andR=M(Wt.times.(1/.rho.t)+Wc.times.(1/.rho.c))/H (2)wherein S is the peripheral speed (cm/sec) of the development sleeve, D is the peripheral speed (cm/sec) of the latent electrostatic image-carrier, M is the coated amount (g/cm.sup.2) of the developer per unit area of the sleeve, H is the distance (cm) at which the sleeve most approaches a drum of a photosensitive material, Wt is the weight concentration (%) of the toner in the developer, Wc is the weight concentration (%) of the carrier in the developer, .rho.t is the true density (g/cm.sup.3) of the toner, and .rho.c is the true density (g/cm.sup.3) of the carrier.