According to one embodiment, a display element includes a light guide and a light extraction unit. The light guide extends in one direction, and is optically transmissive. The light extraction unit includes a displacement layer, a reflective layer provided on the displacement layer, and a light extraction layer provided on the reflective layer to oppose the light guide. A plurality of prisms are formed in one major surface of the light extraction layer opposing the reflective layer. A trough line is formed between mutually-adjacent ridgelines. The element has at least one selected from a configuration in which an angle between one of the oblique surfaces and one other major surface of the light extraction layer opposing the light guide is different between corresponding oblique surfaces of two mutually-adjacent prisms and a configuration in which the ridgelines of the prisms are non-parallel to the trough line between the ridgelines.