A light emitting device includes: a first layer made of a semiconductor of a first conductivity type; a second layer made of a semiconductor of a second conductivity type; an active layer including a multiple quantum well provided between the first layer and the second layer, impurity concentration of the first conductivity type in each barrier layer of the multiple quantum well having a generally flat distribution or increasing toward the second layer, average of the impurity concentration in the barrier layer on the second layer side as viewed from each well layer of the multiple quantum well being equal to or greater than average of the impurity concentration in the barrier layer on the first layer side, and average of the impurity concentration in the barrier layer nearest to the second layer being higher than average of the impurity concentration in the barrier layer nearest to the first layer.