A particulate water absorbing agent having a polyacrylic acid (salt)-based water-absorbing resin as a main component, being surface-crosslinked and satisfying physical properties (1) to (3) below: (1) a proportion of particles with a particle diameter of not less than 150 µm and less than 850 µm is not less than 90% by weight； (2) an elastic modulus index (EMI) of particles with a particle diameter of not less than 500 µm and less than 600 µm is not less than 5500； and (3) a recovery rate defined as Rec.CRC/CRC is 1.05 to 1.20, the particulate water absorbing agent being particularly useful for absorbent articles.
