There are provided a polishing composition that gives, in the step of polishing a wafer, a flat polished surface having a reduced height difference between a central region and a peripheral region (laser mark region) of the wafer, and a method for producing a wafer using the polished composition. A polishing composition comprising water, silica particles, an alkaline substance, and an amphoteric surfactant of formula (1): wherein R1 is a C10-20 alkyl group, or a C1-5 alkyl group containing an amide group; R2 and R3 are each independently a C1-9 alkyl group; and X−is a C1-5 anionic organic group containing a carboxylate ion or a sulfonate ion. Silica particles in the form of an aqueous dispersion of silica particles having a mean primary particle diameter of 5 to 100 nm may be used. A method for producing a wafer, wherein in the step of polishing a wafer, polishing is performed until a height difference between a central region and a peripheral region of the wafer becomes 100 nm or less.