Provided is a positive electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries that is represented by the general formula (1): LiaNi1-x-yCoxMyWzO2+α (where 0≤x≤0.35, 0≤y≤0.35, 0.0008≤z≤0.030, 0.97≤a≤1.25, and 0≤α≤0.20, and M is at least one element selected from Mn, V, Mg, Mo, Nb, Ti, and Al) and is constituted by a Li-metal composite oxide composed of primary particles and secondary particles formed by aggregation of the primary particles, wherein a compound including Li and W is formed on the surface of the primary particles of the composite oxide and the amount of W contained in the compound is such that the number of atoms of W is 0.08 to 0.30 at % with respect to the total number of atoms of Ni, Co, and M contained in the positive electrode active material.