The present invention provides a sintered metal friction material that has excellent wear resistance, heat resistance even at high load and has a higher friction coefficient while maintaining a friction coefficient and wear resistance that are hard to decrease, and has a reduced content of copper of less than 5 mass %. There is provided a sintered metal friction material characterized in that the sintered metal friction material comprises a sintered material of a friction material composition, the friction material composition comprises matrix metals and a friction modifier, the matrix metals comprise following 20 to 40 mass % of iron powder, 20 to 40 mass % of nickel powder, 0.5 to 10 mass % of zinc powder, 0.5 to 5 mass, of tin powder, 0.5 to 4 mass % of copper powder and 0.5 to 5 mass % of sintering assist powder.