A branched vapor-grown carbon fiber having an outer diameter of 0.5 .mu.m or less and an aspect ratio of at least 10, the carbon fiber having a compressed specific resistance of 0.02 .OMEGA.cm or less, each fiber filament having a hollow cylindrical structure, preferably the carbon fiber containing boron and having a compressed specific resistance of 0.018 .OMEGA.cm or less. An electrically conductive transparent composition comprising a resin binder and carbon fiber incorporated into the binder, having transparency and comprising vapor grown carbon fiber having an outer diameter of 0.01 0.1 .mu.m, an aspect ratio of 10 15,000, and a compressed specific resistance of 0.02 .OMEGA.cm or less, and surface resistivity of 10,000 .OMEGA./.quadrature. or less. An electrically conductive transparent material formed from the aforementioned electrically conductive transparent composition.