A thin separator paper is provided for separating a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material from one another in alkaline battery. The separator paper has high gas tightness, high shortage preventing effect, and low deterioration. The separator paper possesses a crystalline structure in which cellulose 1 and cellulose 2 coexist. A ratio of the cellulose 2 is controlled in relation to the cellulose 1 and the separator paper is made by using an alkali treated pulp beaten from CSF 50 ml to 0 ml, as a raw material. The separator paper has the thickness between 15 μm and 60 μm, the gas tightness between 10 minutes/100 ml and 800 minutes/100 ml, and the area shrinkage rate which is not greater than 2%. Also provided is an alkaline battery containing the separator paper.