Provided is an optical element having an optical waveguide region that can propagate azimuthally polarized light or radially polarized light while maintaining the direction of polarization. The optical element has a resin layer and an optical waveguide region that is formed in the resin layer and guides light in the lengthwise direction of the resin layer. Liquid crystal molecules are oriented in an approximately radiating shape in a cross section perpendicular to the lengthwise direction in the optical waveguide region, and the refractive index of the optical waveguide region is greater than that of the resin layer.