An acoustic wave measuring apparatus includes a light source for radiating a light having a wavelength component in wavelength areas, light filters arranged in a light path from the light source to a subject and each to shut off or transmit the light in one of the wavelength areas, a detector for detecting an acoustic wave generated by the radiation, a controller for generating conditions having different combinations of the wavelength components contained in the light, and a signal processor for calculating an optical absorption coefficient of the subject for the light in each wavelength area based on a pressure of the acoustic wave detected under each of the conditions and a strength of the radiated light for each wavelength area under conditions.
