A retaining-wall element of thin-walled reinforced concrete consists of an upright leg (12) and a horizontal leg (14) and a centre stiffening rib (16) connecting these two legs. On both sides of the reinforcing ribs, drain plates (22) slotted on the inside are mounted on the upright leg (12), and located in the bottom corner area of the rib (16) is a hole (30) into which a drain pipe (32) can be pushed which is provided with circumferential openings and extends approximately over the width of the retaining-wall element (10). The retaining-wall element (10) can be completely prefabricated in the precasting plant. Several retaining-wall elements are placed next to one another on site in order to form a retaining wall which no longer requires any gravel backfilling, since collecting water is directed downwards into the drain plates (22) and between the drain plates (22) and the upright leg (12). This water passes into the pipe (32) and escapes downwards through widened edge joints in the horizontal leg (14). <IMAGE>
