A toner including toner particles including a binder resin; a colorant, a release agent, and a modified layered inorganic material in which at least part of interlayer ions is modified with an organic ion, wherein the toner includes the release agent in an amount of from 3 to 6% by weight based on the total weight of the toner, and concentration of the modified layered inorganic material in a surface portion of the toner is greater than the average concentration thereof in the toner, and wherein the toner is subjected to FTIR-ATR, the ratio (P2850/P828) of the strength of the peak at 2850 cm.sup.-1 to that of the peak at 828 cm.sup.-1, is from 0.03 to 0.10. An image forming apparatus and a process cartridge which form a toner image using the toner.