A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes: an electrode assembly including positive and negative electrode plates; a nonaqueous electrolyte; an outer body; and a current interruption mechanism being provided on at least one of a conductive pathway between the positive electrode plate and a positive electrode external terminal and a conductive pathway between the negative electrode plate and a negative electrode external terminal. The nonaqueous electrolyte contains an overcharge inhibitor. The positive electrode active material layer has a specific surface area of 1.3 m2/g or less. The positive electrode active material layer has a total surface area of 41 m2/g or less with respect to the total mass of the overcharge inhibitor in the nonaqueous electrolyte. Thus the battery can increase a battery internal pressure inside the outer body in a short period of time to activate the current interruption mechanism to interrupt the conductive pathway if the battery is overcharged.