To minimize the deterioration of the strength in a living body caused by the phase transition of a zirconia ceramic for implantation in the living body.

The zirconia ceramic for implantation in the living body is characterized in that the zirconia ceramic has a deoxidation ratio of >10 and ≤350 ppm and the amount of a monoclinic component is ≤30 mol % when the ceramic is exposed to saturated steam at 121°C for 120 h. A method for producing the blackened zirconia ceramic for implantation in the living body comprises a process for coating the surface of a zirconia ceramic having a tetragonal lattice constant axial ratio of ≤1.01545 with an activated metal, a process for controlling the deoxidation ratio to be >10 and ≤350 ppm by subjecting the zirconia ceramic to vacuum heat treatment, and a process for removing at least a portion of the coating of the activated metal.