Provided is a light-emitting element having high luminance and high directivity and emitting light in a controlled polarization state. The light-emitting element comprises substrate 3 and light emitting part 10 disposed on substrate 3 for emitting light in which light intensity of a polarization component in first direction x parallel to substrate 3 is higher than light intensities of polarization components in other directions. Light emitting part 10 includes active layer 12 for generating light and a plurality of structural bodies 14a disposed on a light-emitting side of light emitting part 10 with respect to active layer 12 and arrayed two-dimensionally along a surface substantially parallel to active layer 12. Each of structural bodies 14a has width w1 along first direction x and width w2 along second direction y perpendicular to first direction x, width w1 along first direction x and width w2 along second direction y being different from each other in a cross section parallel to active layer 12. Structural bodies 14a are arrayed periodically at first pitch p1 along first direction x and arrayed periodically at second pitch p2, which is different from first pitch p1, along second direction y.