An external additive for a toner for electrophotography which contains oxide fine particles which contain silicon, in which the oxide fine particles have a primary particle diameter of 30 nm to 300 nm in number average, a standard deviation .sigma. of a particle size distribution of the primary particle diameter satisfies a relation of: R/4.ltoreq..sigma..ltoreq.R, in which the R expresses the primary particle diameter,the oxide fine particles are substantially spherical having a circularity SF1 defined as equation (1) of 100 to 130 and a circularity SF2 defined as equation (2) of 100 to 125; SF1=(L.sup.2/A).times.(.pi./4).times.100 equation (1) SF2=(P.sup.2/A).times.(1/4.pi.).times.100 equation (2), in the equations, "L" expresses the absolute maximum length of the oxide fine particles; "A" expresses a projected area of the oxide fine particles; and "P" expresses a maximum perimeter of the oxide fine particles.