Activated carbon adapted for electric double layer capacitors is provided, which capacitors can give a large power density per unit volume and which capacitors, even when charge-and-discharge cycle is repeated under a large current or a constant voltage is continuously applied for a long time, undergo less decrease in output density.That is, the present invention relates to the activated carbon manufactured by carbonization of coconut shell, which has a BET specific surface area of 2000 m.sup.2/g to 2500 m.sup.2/g, an average pore diameter of 1.95 nm (19.5 .ANG.) to 2.20 nm (22 .ANG.) and a pore volume of pores having a pore diameter calculated according to a Cranston-Inkley method of 5.0 nm (50 .ANG.) to 30.0 nm (300 .ANG.), of 0.05 cm.sup.3/g to 0.15 cm.sup.3/g.