Disclosed are a catalyst layer for a fuel cell, including a carbon carrier having pores, a catalyst metal carried on the carbon carrier, and an ionomer covering the carbon carrier, wherein the crystal length of the carbon carrier is not less than 6 nm, and the coverage of the catalyst metal by the ionomer is 55% to 65%, and a method for the production of a catalyst layer for a fuel cell, including heat-treating a carbon carrier having pores, heat-treating the heat-treated carbon carrier under an oxygen atmosphere to activate the carbon carrier, allowing the activated carbon carrier to carry a catalyst metal, mixing the carbon carrier carrying the catalyst metal and an ionomer to cover the carbon carrier with the ionomer, and forming the catalyst layer for a fuel cell using the carbon carrier covered with the ionomer.