Provided is a particulate water absorbing agent that has a polyacrylate (salt) based superabsorbent polymer as a main component has surface cross linking and satisfies the following physical properties (1) (3) and that is extremely useful for absorbent articles. (1) The proportion of particles with a particle size of 150 m to less than 850 m is at least 90% by weight (2) the elasticity modulus index (EMI) of particles with a particle size of 500 m to less than 600 m is at least 5500 and (3) the recovery rate expressed as Rec.CRC/CRC is 1.05 1.20.
