The present invention provides a separator for alkaline batteries and an alkaline battery improving reliability of prevention in internal short-circuits, and having good liquid retention and shielding property. To achieve this, the separator for alkaline batteries is made from a wet nonwoven fabric which contains at least alkali-resistant cellulose fibers and alkali-resistant synthetic fibers bound using a binder component; wherein an average pore diameter of the wet nonwoven fabric is 1 to 10 μm. Moreover, the separator for alkaline batteries uses the wet nonwoven fabric having a maximum pore diameter of 20 to 60 μm, a liquid retention rate of 400 to 700% during immersion in a 40% by mass KOH solution, and a swelling ratio of 30 to 45% during immersion in a 40% by mass KOH solution.