To provide an EL element capable of realizing high light extraction efficiency by a simple constitution, and an easy manufacturing method.

This is the EL element in which an optical sheet to satisfy the following conditions is installed at an either position on a light-emitting layer 24c side than a face from which light is extracted toward outside of the EL element 21, and on the viewing side than a face of a light emitting side of a light transmissive electrode 25. a. When out of light incident to the optical sheet, parallel transmissivity against light incident from the normal line direction of the sheet face is made To, and the parallel transmissivity against light incident from a direction inclined to the sheet by 45 in a state that both sheet faces are pinched by two sheets of right angle reflecting prism slope is made T, a value of T/To is 0.6 or less. b. As for the optical sheet, flat particles of which the average aspect ratio is 2 or more are dispersed in a transparent resin, and the average value of the smaller angle made by a long axis direction of the particles and the sheet face direction in two cross-sections perpendicular to the sheet face is within 30.