An absolute encoder includes a light-emitting mechanism including a light-emitting surface and emitting detection light from the light-emitting surface. A light-receiving mechanism including a scale plate having a scale area and receiving at a light-receiving area the detection light emitted from the light-emitting surface and passing through the scale area of the scale plate. The light-emitting mechanism and the light-receiving mechanism are set to a positional relationship that inclines an irradiation axis extending from the light-emitting surface through the scale area to the light-receiving area relative to a rotation axis direction of the scale plate.