To provide a fluorescent lamp and its lighting system, which allows electrons to transfer more easily and improves a darkness starting characteristic without complicating and enlarging the end part structure of the fluorescent lamp, and also without need for an additional power source.

The fluorescent lamp is characterized in that in the tubular bulb (2) which rare gas, or rare gas and mercury is sealed in with both ends blocked and a phosphor film (3) formed on the inner surface thereof, a pair of the external electrodes (4), (5) are disposed on the external surfaces of both ends in the tube axis direction of the tubular bulb (2), and the end surfaces in the tube axis direction of the respective external electrodes (4), (5) are formed in toothing (4a).