[Problem] Provided is a polishing composition which is suitable for polishing a polishing object having a metal wiring layer and capable of diminishing the step defect while maintaining a high polishing rate.[Solution] Provided is a polishing composition used in polishing a polishing object having a metal wiring layer, which contains a metal corrosion inhibitor, a complexing agent, a surfactant, and water and in which the solid surface energy of the polishing object surface after polishing the polishing object using the polishing composition is 30 mN/m or less, and the surfactant is preferably an anionic surfactant.