A homogeneously surface cross-linked water absorbent resin and a method for the production thereof are provided.The water absorbent material is formed of a surface cross-linked water absorbent resin resulting from granular irregularly pulverized shaped surface cross-linking the product of partial neutralization or whole neutralization of a water absorbent resin having acrylic acid or a metal salt thereof as a main component, which water absorbent material shows a metal atom concentration on the surface of the water absorbent material in the range of 0-10% within 0 second of polishing and 2-35% at 10 seconds value of polishing as determined by subjecting the water absorbent material to Ar ion discharge polishing under a voltage of 500 Å. The surface cross-linked water absorbent resin to be used herein can be produced by surface cross-linking a water absorbent resin having a specific particle diameter with a surface cross-linking agent having a water concentration in a specific range.