A disclosed electrochromic display element includes a display substrate, a counter substrate facing the display substrate, display electrodes arranged between the display substrate and the counter substrate, electrochromic layers formed on the respective display electrodes, a plurality of drive elements arranged on the counter substrate at predetermined intervals, a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged on the drive elements, a charge retention layer formed over the pixel electrodes as a continuous layer, the charge retention layer being formed of a mixed film including a polymer and one of electric conductive microparticles and semiconductor microparticles, and an electrolyte layer sandwitched between the display substrate and the charge retention layer.