A light emitting element includes an anode, a light transmitting cathode, and a light emitting layer sandwiched therebetween, formed on a surface of a substrate. Light emitted by the light emitting layer by voltage being applied between the electrodes is output from a surface toward the side of the light transmitting electrode. A light scattering layer for scattering evanescent light generated at the surface is provided on the surface of the light transmitting electrode. The light scattering layer has a first scattering portion having an uneven structure and a lower refractive index than the light emitting layer, and second scattering portions that fill at least the bottoms of recesses of the uneven structure and has a different refractive index from the first scattering portion. The distance between the bottoms of the recesses and the surface of the light transmitting electrode is a seepage depth of the evanescent light or less.