The present invention provides a water-soluble antibacterial composition containing: two or more kinds of compounds selected from the group consisting of (a) benzoic acid or a salt thereof, (b) δ-gluconolactone, (c) ketonic acid or a salt thereof, and (d) sorbic acid or a salt thereof; and (e) at least one kind of dicarboxylic acid represented by general formula (I), XOOC?R-COOX (I) (in the formula, R is a bond or a C1-C8 alkylene group, alkenylene group, or alkynylene group, and X represents a hydrogen atom or an alkali metal), or a salt thereof. The water-soluble antibacterial composition exhibits excellent antiseptic and antifungal effects, high safety, and low skin irritation. In addition, the water-soluble antibacterial composition can maintain antiseptic and antifungal effects for a long period of time, even when kept at a temperature higher than room temperature.
