A polyethylene powder having a limiting viscosity [η] of 2.0 dl/g or more and less than 20.0 dl/g as measured in decalin at 135° C., wherein the polyethylene powder presents a percentage decrease from a specific surface area A measured by the BET method before heating at 120° C. for 5 h to a specific surface area B measured by a BET method after heating at 120° C. for 5 h, ((A−B)/A×100), of 0.1% or more and less than 35%.