To provide a surface light emitting element which is capable of emitting light from both surfaces thereof and transmitting light, and has a structure for further increasing luminous efficiency at one of the surfaces, and to provide a lighting device using the surface light emitting element.

A surface light emitting element 3 comprises: a luminous layer 34 for emitting light; an anode electrode layer 33 which is disposed on one surface of the luminous layer 34 and allows the light emitted from the luminous layer 34 to pass through; a cathode electrode layer 36 which is disposed on the other surface of the luminous layer 34 and allows the light emitted from the luminous layer 34 to pass through; a light diffusion layer 32 which is disposed on a surface of the anode electrode layer 33, opposite to the other surface thereof where the luminous layer 34 is disposed, and diffuses the light emitted from the luminous layer 34; and a light passing layer 31 which is disposed on a surface of the light diffusion layer 32, opposite to the other surface thereof where the anode electrode layer 33 is disposed, and has a smaller refractive index than the light diffusion layer 32. The cathode electrode layer 36 includes: a thin film metal electrode layer 36a disposed at the side of the luminous layer 34; and a light reflecting electrode layer 36b which is disposed at the other side opposite to the luminous layer 34 across the thin film metal electrode layer 36a, and transmits the light passing through the thin film metal electrode layer 36a to the side opposite to the luminous layer 34.