A method for manufacturing a light emitting element includes: forming a first electrode; forming a hole transport region on a first electrode; forming an emission layer on the hole transport region; forming an electron transport region on the emission layer; and forming a second electrode on the electron transport region, wherein the forming of the emission layer includes providing a quantum dot composition containing a quantum dot and a ligand bonded to a surface of the quantum dot, to form a preliminary emission layer; and increasing the layer density of the preliminary emission layer by about 5% or greater, thereby improving a luminous efficiency of the light emitting element.