The electrolyte for a lithium battery includes a non-aqueous organic solvent, a lithium salt, and an additive of the following Formula 1: wherein, X and Y are the same or different from each other and selected from O, S, CR2, or NR, where here R is H, a halogen, or an alkyl having a carbon number of less than or equal to 8, or neighboring alkyl groups are combined to each other to form a cycle or hetero cycle, and both X and Y are not oxygen (O), Ra to Rd are the same or different from each other and selected from H, a halogen, an alkoxy group having a carbon number of less than or equal to 8, or an unsaturated or saturated alkyl group having a carbon number of less than or equal to 8, or neighboring alkyl groups are combined to each other to form a cycle or hetero cycle, and at least one of Ra to Rd is a halogen.