Provided is a piezoelectric element including a first electrode provided above a substrate, a piezoelectric layer provided above the first electrode, containing potassium, sodium, and niobium, and having a perovskite structure, and a second electrode provided above the piezoelectric layer. In a case where the piezoelectric layer is divided into two portions at a center thereof in a thickness direction, the piezoelectric layer includes a first portion on the first electrode side and a second portion on the second electrode side. The piezoelectric layer includes line defects. A density of the line defects in the second portion is higher than a density of the line defects in the first portion.