A gas sensor element includes: a solid electrolyte body; a target gas chamber; a reference gas chamber; a first electrode coming into contact with the solid electrolyte in the target gas chamber; a second electrode coming into contact with the solid electrolyte body in the reference gas chamber so as to hold the solid electrolyte body between the first electrode and the second electrode; a diffusion layer arranged to come into contact with the solid electrolyte body and configured to deliver the target gas to the target gas chamber; and a shielding layer arranged to come into contact with the diffusion layer so as to arrange the diffusion layer between the solid electrolyte body and the shielding layer. At least one of the solid electrolyte body and the shielding layer is provided with a concave section depressed from an interface side with the diffusion layer.