A developing roller has a surface layer which can effectively inhibit the bleeding of a low-molecular-weight component from an elastic layer, and can efficiently impart a high electric charge to a negatively chargeable toner, and is excellent in toner-releasing properties. The developing roller has a mandrel, at least one layer of an elastic layer provided on the mandrel and a surface layer provided on the elastic layer, carries and conveys a toner, and develops an electrostatic latent image on an opposing photosensitive member with the toner. The surface layer comprises a silicon compound film containing Si, N, C and H having specific total amounts of the existing elements Si, N, C and H, and specific ratios N/Si, C/Si, and H/Si.