Upon extraction of a human figure region in an image, a face or facial part is detected in the image, and an estimated region which is estimated to include the human figure region is determined from position information of the detected face or facial part. The human figure region is extracted in the estimated region. Judgment is made as to whether at least a portion of the human figure region exists in an outline periphery region of the estimated region, and the estimated region is extended and updated so as to include a near outer region near the human figure region in the outline periphery region and outside the estimated region, in the case where a result of the judgment is affirmative. The human figure region is extracted in the extended and updated estimated region.