Provided is a positive electrode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, the positive electrode active material comprising: particles of lithium-nickel composite oxide havinga layered hexagonal structure; and a lithium tungstate coating disposed on the surface of secondary particles of the lithium-nickel composite oxide particles, wherein the positive electrode active material contains, as metal elements, W and at least one element M selected from among Li, Ni, Co, Mn, V, Mg, Mo, Nb, Ti, Ca, Cr, Zr, Ta, and Al, the ratios of the elements satisfy Li:Ni:Co:M:W=a:1-x-y:x:y:z (0.97<= a <=1.25, 0<= x <=0.35, 0<= y <=0.35, 0.005<= z <=0.030), and the ratio of the maximum concentration of tungsten to the average concentration of tungsten in the particle cross-sections is5-25.