According to one embodiment, a light emitting element, includes: a semiconductor stacked body including a light emitting layer; a first upper electrode being connected directly to the semiconductor stacked body; at least one second upper electrode extending from the first upper electrode, the at least one second upper electrode being connected to the semiconductor stacked body via a first contact layer; a lower electrode; a transparent conductive layer; an intermediate film containing oxygen provided between the semiconductor stacked body and the transparent conductive layer; a light reflecting layer; and a current-blocking layer, at least one slit being provided selectively in the current-blocking layer as viewed from a direction perpendicular to a major surface of the light emitting layer.