A lithium battery which has an anode, a cathode having a compound capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium, a separator interposed between the cathode and the anode, and an electrolyte solution having an electrolyte solute dissolved in a nonaqueous solvent. The nonaqueous solvent includes a mixed solvent containing 8 to 15% by volume of ethylene carbonate, 10 to 35% by volume of .gamma.-butyrolactone, 35 to 65% by volume of at least one linear carbonate selected from the group consisting of dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, ethylmethyl carbonate, methylpropyl carbonate, ethylpropyl carbonate and methylbutyl carbonate and 8 to 15% by volume of fluorobenzene, and 0.5 to 9 parts by volume of vinylene carbonate based on 100 parts by volume of the mixed solvent. The nonaqueous solvent may further include 0.05 to 5 parts by volume of vinyl sulfone, isooxazole or a mixture thereof based on 100 parts by volume of the mixed solvent.