To provide a flat lighting device used for a liquid crystal display device and the like that can be made thin and lightweight and produced at low cost, the lighting device of the present invention includes a plurality of surface light emitting plates which are two-dimensionally arranged. Each of the plurality of surface light emitting plates includes a light guide portion and a light source portion provided in an end portion of the light guide portion. The light guide portion and the light source portion are integrally provided. The light source portion of a surface light emitting plate two-dimensionally overlaps with the light guide portion of another surface light emitting plate adjacent thereto, so light having a uniform intensity can be emitted above the plurality of surface light emitting plates.