A positive electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery, includes a current collector including pores on a surface thereof; and a positive active material layer on the current collector and including a positive active material, the positive active material including a lithium metal compound including primary particles and secondary particles including agglomerations of the primary particles, an average diameter of the pores of the current collector being greater than an average particle diameter (D50) of the primary particles and less than an average particle diameter (D50) of the secondary particles.