An infrared LED having a monolithic and stacked structure, having an n-doped base substrate, which includes GaAs, a lower cladding layer, an active layer for generating infrared radiation, an upper cladding layer, a current distribution layer and an upper contact layer. The layers being preferably disposed in the specified order. A first tunnel diode is disposed between the upper cladding layer and the current distribution layer, and the current distribution layer predominantly including an n-doped, Ga-containing layer having a Ga content>1%.