A polarizing element has a wire grid structure, and includes a transparent substrate, and projections, which are arrayed on the main surface of the substrate at a pitch p40 that is narrower than the wavelength of the light in the used light region, and extend along the Y-direction. The projections have a laminated structure in which two or more sets of a dielectric layer and a conductive layer are laminated alternately along the Z-direction. The conductive layers include a first conductive layer having absorption properties relative to the light in the used light region and a second conductive layer having reflective properties relative to the light in the used light region. The first conductive layer is provided as the conductive layer closest to the incident side of the light.