Multilayer ceramic capacitor

A multilayer ceramic capacitor comprising:

• a laminate including a dielectric ceramic layer and an internal electrode layer that are laminated in a lamination direction;
• and
• an external electrode connected to the internal electrode layer;
• wherein
• the laminate includes a first main surface and a second main surface that oppose each other in the lamination direction, a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface that oppose each other in a width direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the lamination direction, and a first end surface and a second end surface that oppose each other in a length direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the lamination direction and the width direction;
• the internal electrode layer includes a first internal electrode layer extending to the first end surface and a second internal electrode layer extending to the second end surface so as to oppose the first internal electrode layer with the dielectric ceramic layer therebetween;
• the external electrode includes a first external electrode disposed on the first end surface and connected to the first internal electrode layer, and a second external electrode disposed on the second end surface and connected to the second internal electrode layer;
• the laminate includes a central layer portion in which the first internal electrode layer and the second internal electrode layer are alternately laminated with the dielectric ceramic layer therebetween, a peripheral layer portion sandwiching the central layer portion in the lamination direction and made of a ceramic material, and a side margin sandwiching the central layer portion and the peripheral layer portion in the width direction and made of a ceramic material;
• the side margin includes an inner layer on an innermost side in the width direction and an outer layer on an outermost side in the width direction;
• the first internal electrode layer, the second internal electrode layer, the first external electrode, and the second external electrode include Ni;
• the first external electrode is disposed on the first end surface and extends therefrom on the first main surface, the second main surface, the first lateral surface, and the second lateral surface;
• and
• in a cross section including the lamination direction and the width direction which is obtained by cutting the laminate and the first external electrode at a central portion in a length direction of an extending portion of the first external electrode which extends on the first main surface, a Ni content of the peripheral layer portion is larger at a surface portion in a thickness direction of the peripheral layer portion than a Ni content at a central portion in the thickness direction of the peripheral layer portion, and a Ni content of the side margin is larger at a surface portion in a thickness direction of the side margin than a Ni content at a central portion in the thickness direction of the side margin.