To provide a reflective mask blank for EUV lithography having an absorber layer having optical constants suitable for reducing the thickness. A mask blank for EUV lithography comprising a substrate, and a reflective layer for reflecting EUV light and an absorber layer for absorbing EUV light formed in this order on the substrate, wherein the absorber layer contains tantalum (Ta) and palladium (Pd), and in the absorber layer, the content of tantalum (Ta) is from 10 to 80 at %, the content of palladium (Pd) is from 20 to 90 at %, and the total content of Ta and Pd is from 95 to 100 at %.