The invention provides an organic electroluminescent device including an organic compound layer provided between a pair of electrodes. The organic compound layer has at least a luminescent layer. The luminescent layer has at least a metal complex containing a tri- or higher-dentate ligand and plurality of host compounds. The metal complex is preferably a metal complex capable of obtaining light emission from a triplet exciton. The ligand of the metal complex is preferably chained or cyclic. Further, an ionization potential of the metal complex is preferably larger than a minimum value out of ionization potentials of the plurality of host compounds.