A catalyst for manufacturing carbon substances, such as carbon nanotube that has a diameter of 1000 nm or less, the catalyst containing at least iron, cobalt or nickel of a first element group and tin or indium of a second element group. The catalyst can be formed by at least tin and indium in addition to cobalt or nickel. The former catalyst provides a 2-component type catalyst and a multi-component type catalyst that is composed on the basis of the 2-component type catalyst, and the later catalyst provides a 3-component type catalyst and a multi-component type catalyst that is composed on the basis of the 3-component type catalyst.