To provide a membrane-electrode assembly in which a solid polymer electrolytic membrane is reinforced to prevent the breakage of the membrane in the course of manufacture and deterioration in electrochemical properties can be prevented even under warm-water environments or high-temperature and humid environments, and its manufacturing method.

In the membrane-electrode assembly constituted by joining catalyst electrode layers 3 and 4 to both main surfaces in the central part of an electrolyte membrane 1, a reinforcing layer 2 formed by melting and solidifying resin into frame-like shape is provided to the catalyst-electrode-layer- free outer peripheral surface part of the electrolyte membrane. In the method for manufacturing the above membrane-electrode assembly, the above reinforcing layer 2 is formed into frame-like shape by applying a resin solution to the outer peripheral surface part of the electrolyte membrane 1 and then carrying out drying or is formed into frame-like shape by spraying resin powder onto the outer peripheral surface part of the electrolyte membrane 1 and then melting and solidifying the resultant resin powder layer by heating under pressurization.