A zirconia powder is provided comprising a yttria source and zirconia, wherein a content of the yttria source is 4.5 mol % or more and 6.5 mol % or less and the remainder is zirconia, a ratio of a total of tetragonal and cubic crystals to an entire crystal phase of zirconia is 90% or less, a BET specific surface area is 7.5 m2/g or more and 15 m2/g or less, and an average crystallite size is 325 Å or greater. The powders are useful in producing sintered bodies having the mechanical strength and the translucency desired for use in dental prosthetic materials, and precursors thereof.