In a surface light source apparatus 1 for irradiating light in a planar form by arranging a plurality of tubular light sources 2 at high density in the middle of a screen so that brightness at the middle of the screen is high, each tubular light source 2 positioned in rows at topmost and bottommost edges is arranged to be closer toward screen corner sections in a plan view so as to compensate for lack of brightness at the screen corner sections in a plan view. In this manner, each tubular light source 2 is arranged by placing each tubular light source 2 in the rows at the topmost and bottommost edges closer in a row direction toward each corner section B of the reflection sheet 5. Thereby, brightness at the middle of a screen is maintained and enhanced, and display quality at corner sections of the screen is improved.