An exhaust gas purification catalyst has a substrate, a lower catalyst layer that is formed on the substrate and contains at least one of Pd and Pt, and an upper catalyst layer that is formed on the lower catalyst layer and contains Rh. A region that does not contain the upper catalyst layer is disposed on the exhaust gas upstream side of this exhaust gas purification catalyst. The lower catalyst layer includes a front-stage lower catalyst layer on the exhaust gas upstream side and a rear-stage lower catalyst layer on the exhaust gas downstream side. The front-stage lower catalyst layer contains an oxygen storage material.