There is provided a nickel powder suitable as conductive particles for use in conductive paste and conductive resin, that is inexpensive, has superior weather resistance, low resistivity when kneaded with resin, and is stable when used in the long-term, and a production method therefor.A nickel powder is produced by a two stage reduction and precipitation process from an aqueous solution containing a bivalent nickel salt, wherein an average primary particle diameter is 0.2 .mu.m to 2.0 .mu.m as measured with a scanning electron microscope (SEM), wherein an average secondary particle diameter is 8 .mu.m to 50 .mu.m according to laser particle size distribution measurement, wherein a tap density is 0.5 g/ml to 2.0 g/ml, wherein a cobalt content is 1 to 20 weight %. The cobalt may be contained in only the surface layer of the nickel powder at a content of 1 weight % to 40 weight %.