A latch needle 10 including: a needle body 11 which has an uncinate hook 14 provided at a front end of the needle body 11 and a latch 20 which is attached to the needle body 11 rotatably so as to be able to contact with and separate from the hook 14 wherein: a loop of a knitting yarn S is formed to move along a back surface 20a of the latch 20 and escape toward the front end side in a knockover state in which the latch 20 abuts against the hook 14 the needle body 11 has a recessed shape 11b in a back surface 11a which is an opposite surface to a surface facing the latch 20 and the recessed shape 11b is provided to reach at least an intersection position between the needle body 11 and the back surface 20a of the latch 20 when the latch needle 10 in the knockover state is seen in an axial direction A from a side. Thus, it is possible to provide a latch needle which can suppress frictional resistance from fluctuating suddenly. Fig. 1
