An apparatus for calculating a normalized correlation coefficient used as a similarity evaluation measure by using image data values of pixels in a template image and image data values of pixels in a subimage, included in a search image, corresponding to the template image, has a memory that stores image data values of pixels in the search image and calculating means that calculate a sum of image data values of pixels in the template image and a sum of image data values of pixels in the first rectangular region in the search image or a sum of squares of image data values of pixels in the template image and a sum of squares of image data values of pixels in the first rectangular region in the search image. Normalized correlation coefficient calculating means calculate a normalized correlation coefficient on the basis of the sum of image data values of pixels in the template image and the sum of image data values of pixels in the first rectangular region in the search image, or the sum of squares of image data values of pixels in the template image and the sum of squares of image data values of pixels in the first rectangular region in the search image.