To provide a sound absorbing material which uses a recyclable material capable of lightening a load on environment and has sound absorption characteristics equal to or more than those of a conventional sound absorbing material.

The sound absorbing material consists of a fiber structure body made principally of polylactic-acid-based short fiber and has 0.01 g/cm3 apparent density. The polylactic-acid-based short fiber is bicomponent fiber having polylactic acid A as a high-molecular-weight component A and polylactic acid B as a low-molecular-weight component arranged in a side-by-side type or eccentric core sheath type and the bicomponent fiber is preferably no mechanically crimped, but self-crimps. Further, the polylactic-acid-based short fiber is preferably core sheath type bicomponent fiber, aromatic polyester constituting a sheath part and polylactic acid constituting a core part.