An object of the present invention is to provide a gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor light emitting device having superior light extraction efficiency and light distribution uniformity.The inventive gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor light emitting device comprises a substrate and a gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor layer stacked on the substrate, wherein on at least one lateral surface of the light emitting device, the bottom (substrate side) of the semiconductor layer is a reverse taper inclined 5 to 85 degrees relative to the substrate main surface and the top of the semiconductor layer is a forward taper inclined 95 to 175 degrees relative to the substrate main surface.