The experimental and CFD analysis were conducted to investigate the relationship between stall and leading-edge vortex (LEV) in a centrifugal compressor with vaned diffuser. The LEV is distinct from the separating vortex of the diffuser leading-edge and passage vortex of the diffuser. The LEV is made up of two longitudinal vortices. It is produced by the accumulation of vortices caused by the velocity gradient of the impeller-discharge flow. According to the experimental results, both the impeller and diffuser rotating stalls occurred at 55 and 25 Hz during off-design flow operation. Both stall cells were existed only on the shroud side of the flow passages, which is very close to the source location of the LEV. Additionally, the intensity and scale of the diffuser stall fluctuation are much larger than those of the impeller stall fluctuation. Therefore, the unsteady behavior of the LEV may play an important role in the inception of the rotating stall. According to the CFD results, the size of the LEV doesn't change, and the LEV is comparatively stable in the designed flow operation. On the other hand, the LEV develops and forms a huge flow blockage within the diffuser passages during off-design operation. Therefore, the LEV may be considered to be one of the causes of the diffuser stall in the centrifugal compressor.