A zoom lens includes, in order from the object side, a negative first lens group, a positive second lens group and a positive third lens group, wherein, during magnification change from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, at least the first and second lens groups are moved such that the interval between the first and second lens groups decreases and the interval between the second and third lens groups increases. The first lens group includes a negative meniscus first-group first lens with a convex object-side surface, a negative meniscus first-group second lens with a convex object-side surface, and a positive first-group third lens with a convex object-side surface, and the second lens group includes a positive lens, a cemented lens formed by a positive lens and a negative lens, a positive lens and a negative lens, in order from the object side. The zoom lens satisfies given conditional expressions.