A nonaqueous electrolyte battery includes a negative electrode including a current collector and a negative electrode active material having a Li ion insertion potential not lower than 0.4V (vs. Li/Li.sup.+). The negative electrode has a porous structure. A pore diameter distribution of the negative electrode as determined by a mercury porosimetry, which includes a first peak having a mode diameter of 0.01 to 0.2 .mu.m, and a second peak having a mode diameter of 0.003 to 0.02 .mu.m. A volume of pores having a diameter of 0.01 to 0.2 .mu.m as determined by the mercury porosimetry is 0.05 to 0.5 mL per gram of the negative electrode excluding the weight of the current collector. A volume of pores having a diameter of 0.003 to 0.02 .mu.m as determined by the mercury porosimetry is 0.0001 to 0.02 mL per gram of the negative electrode excluding the weight of the current collector.