To provide a thin, high luminance and long life organic EL element that prevents the infiltration of moisture, oxygen and the like by increasing closeness between a passivation film and a flattening film.

The organic EL element comprises a first electrode 14 formed on a TFT substrate 11 having the electrically insulating flattening film 12 on the surface, an organic luminescent layer 15 formed on the first electrode, a second electrode 16 formed on the organic luminescent layer, and the passivation film 17 formed over the second electrode 16 and flattening film 12. The flattening film 12 is formed such that the thickness thereof tapers in a peripheral region.