A zoom lens is provided and includes: in order from an object side thereof, a first lens group having a negative refractive power, a stop; a second lens group having a positive refractive power; and a third lens group having a positive refractive power. The magnification of the zoom lens is varied from a wide angle end to a telephoto end by changing a space between the first lens group and the second lens group and a space between the second lens group and the third lens group. The first lens group includes: in order from an object side thereof, a negative lens having at least one aspherical surface and having a concave surface on an image side thereof; and a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface on the object side thereof. The zoom lens satisfies conditional expressions specified in the specification.