According to one embodiment, a lighting circuit includes a high potential input terminal, a low potential input terminal, a high potential output terminal, a low potential output terminal, first and second switching elements, first and second rectifying elements, an inductor and a control circuit. The first switching element has one end connected to the high potential input terminal. The first rectifying element is connected between one other end of the first switching element and the low potential input terminal. The inductor has one end connected to the one other end of the first switching element. The second switching element is connected between one other end of the inductor and the low potential input terminal. The second rectifying element is connected between the one other end of the inductor and the high potential output terminal. The control circuit turns on or off the first and second switching elements.