An EL element including an EL light-emitting structure including a light-emitting layer on a transparent electrode, and a counter electrode on the light-emitting layer, a translucent substrate, and a light scattering layer between the EL light-emitting structure and the translucent substrate, the light scattering layer having a first surface on a transparent electrode side and a second surface on a side of the translucent substrate. The light scattering layer includes light scattering particles which includes particles that form agglomerates in a portion of the first surface such that the portion of the first surface has a concavo-convex shape. The light scattering particles further include particles positioned in order along the second surface such that the second surface is smoother than the portion of the first surface having the concavo-convex shape.