A direct methanol fuel cell of the present invention includes a unit cell having an electrolyte membrane, an anode on one surface of the electrolyte membrane, and a cathode on the other surface of the electrolyte membrane. The anode includes an anode catalyst layer and an anode diffusion layer. The anode catalyst layer is in contact with a surface of the electrolyte membrane. The anode diffusion layer is in contact with a surface of the anode catalyst layer opposite to the surface of the anode catalyst layer in contact with the electrolyte membrane. A methanol flux value JGDL of the anode diffusion layer and a methanol flux value JPEM of the electrolyte membrane satisfy the following relations: JGDL=1×10−5 to 5×10−4 mol/(cm2·min.),  (i) and JPEM×JGDL≦1×10−8 [mol/(cm2·min.)]2.  (ii)