A polyvinyl alcohol resin containing a polyvinyl alcohol as a substantially sole polymer component, wherein the polyvinyl alcohol resin has: an absorbance Abs.sub.320 at an optical path length of 10 mm and a wavelength of 320 nm being 0.09 or more, when prepared into a 0.1% by mass aqueous solution; a ratio (Abs.sub.320/Abs.sub.370) of the absorbance Abs.sub.320 to an absorbance Abs.sub.370 at an optical path length of 10 mm and a wavelength of 370 nm being 4.9 or less, when prepared into the 0.1% by mass aqueous solution; and a total content of divalent metal elements and trivalent metal elements being less than 30 ?mol/g.

A polyvinyl alcohol resin containing a polyvinyl alcohol as a substantially sole polymer component, wherein the polyvinyl alcohol resin has: an absorbance Abs.sub.320 at an optical path length of 10 mm and a wavelength of 320 nm being 0.09 or more, when prepared into a 0.1% by mass aqueous solution; a ratio (Abs.sub.320/Abs.sub.370) of the absorbance Abs.sub.320 to an absorbance Abs.sub.370 at an optical path length of 10 mm and a wavelength of 370 nm being 4.9 or less, when prepared into the 0.1% by mass aqueous solution; and a total content of divalent metal elements and trivalent metal elements being less than 30 ?mol/g.