To provide a hydrophilic coating film that excels not only in initial humidification performance, but also in long-term humidification performance as well as to provide a production method for the hydrophilic coating film, and a humidification element. A hydrophilic coating film (7) contains porous silica gel particles (3), fine inorganic particles (2) having an average particle diameter smaller than an average pore diameter of the silica gel particles (3), and a thickener (8). A production method for the hydrophilic coating film (7) coats a base material (1) with a coating composition and dries the coated base material (1), the coating composition containing water (6), a thickener (6), porous silica gel particles (3), and fine inorganic particles (2) having an average particle diameter smaller than an average pore diameter of the silica gel particles (3).