Hygroscopic fibers have low loft or resilience, which makes development thereof into a batting problematic. Although several techniques are known for enhancing loft, only initial loft is secured, andthere is a significant tendency for loft to decrease due to moisture, repeated use, passage of time, and other factors. The present invention was developed in view of the current state of the prior art, and the purpose thereof is to provide a hygroscopic granulated wool and a batting containing the granulated wool, whereby hygroscopic properties and continuous loft are obtained at the same time. The present invention is a granulated wool containing a surface layer part comprising a polymer having a cross-linked structure and a carboxyl group, and a center part comprising an acrylonitrile-basedpolymer, the hygroscopic granulated wool being characterized in that the volumetric expansion rate indicating the degree of expansion of the volume thereof after a fixed load is removed with respectto the volume thereof under the load is 15% or greater, and the moisture absorption coefficient thereof in an environment at 20DC and a relative humidity of 65% is 4% or greater.