An electrophotographic photosensitive member rotatably supported in an image forming apparatus. The electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a substantially cylindrical body and a photosensitive layer formed thereon and having a latent image forming area. The photosensitive layer is, when incorporated in the image forming apparatus, pressed harder at a middle portion than at end portions in an axial direction of the latent image forming area, and a thickness at the middle portion is larger than at the end portions. The photosensitive layer may have a dynamic indentation hardness larger at the middle portion than at the end portions.