Disclosed is a positive active material for a rechargeable lithium battery. The positive active material includes at least one compound represented by formulas 1 to 4 and a metal oxide or composite metal oxide layer formed on the compound.(where M is selected from the group consisting of Co, Mg, Fe, Sr, Ti, B, Si, Ga, Al, Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Ac, Th, Pa, U, Np, Pu, Am, Cm, Bk, Cf, Es, Fm, Md, No and Lr, 0.95<=x<=1.1, 0<y<=0.99, 0<=z<=0.5, and 0<=A≤0.5).