To provide a nonwoven fabric excellent in abrasion resistance while having a high water permeability, and a method for producing the same.

This short fiber nonwoven fabric has the molten lumps of the fiber on at least the one side surface of the short fiber nonwoven fabric using a thermoplastic fiber. The method for producing the short fiber nonwoven fabric is provided by using the short fiber consisting of the thermoplastic fiber, and exposing at least the one side surface of the short fiber nonwoven fabric to a higher temperature than a melting temperature of the thermoplastic fiber by ≥30°C to form molten lumps of the fiber.