A light emitting element (100) comprising an element body (60) having a luminous layer portion (24) consisting of a compound semiconductor layer, and an electrode (10) provided on the surface of the element body (60), for applying a light emitting drive voltage to the luminous layer portion (24). In the electrode, a current allowing layer portion (8) for allowing a flowing current to preferentially flow to the element body (60) by the application of a light emitting drive voltage, and a current restricting layer portion (7) for making the density of a current flowing to the element body (60) smaller than that of the current allowing layer portion (8) are formed at portions including contact surfaces with the element body (60).
