A rechargeable lithium battery including an electrode assembly having a positive electrode including a positive current collector partially coated with a positive active material to form a positive coated region and a positive uncoated region, a negative electrode including a negative current collector partially coated with a negative active material to form a negative coated region and a negative uncoated region and a separator between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The electrode assembly is spirally wound a plurality of times with the positive uncoated region and the negative uncoated region together forming a core central to the spirally-wound electrode assembly and wound from 3 to 15 times.