Disclosed herein is a gas permeable electrode which comprises a gas permeable layer and a reaction layer, the reaction layer comprising hydrophobic portions and hydrophilic portions. Electrolyte penetrates into the reaction layer and does not penetrate into the gas permeable layer, and only the gas produced on the electrode and the gas supplied penetrate into the gas permeable layer. The gas can be released from the rear side of the electrode and the reaction surface thereof never be covered with the gas.