An image processing apparatus includes: a rate control section that performs rate control of output data by preferentially deleting lower-level-side coded data, as necessary, from respective pieces of coded data where respective bit-planes with levels higher than a predetermined level of a bit-plane group, in which coefficient data obtained by orthogonally transforming image data is developed in a bit depth direction, are coded; and a synthesizing section that generates the output data by synthesizing the coded data, from which the lower-level-side coded data is preferentially deleted as necessary by the rate control section, and respective bit-planes with levels lower than the predetermined level of the bit-plane group.