Disclosed is a high-strength steel sheet which has a predetermined component composition, structurally has a ferrite matrix structure and bainitic and martensitic second phase structures, and has a ferrite fraction of from 50 to 86 percent by area, a bainite fraction of from 10 to 30 percent by area, and a martensite fraction of from 4 to 20 percent by area, relative to the entire structure, in which the bainite area fraction is larger than the martensite area fraction, the ferrite has an average grain size of 2.0 to 5.0 μm, and the ratio of the average ferrite hardness (Hv) to the tensile strength (MPa) of the steel sheet is equal to or more than 0.25. The steel sheet excels both in TS-EL balance and TS-λ balance at high strengths on the order of 590 to 780 MPa.