A light emitting device has a light emitting element, and a high-refractive index layer that contacts an emission surface of the light emitting element. The high-refractive index layer has transparent fine particles uniformly arranged along the emission surface. The fine particles has a refractive index high than that of a material composing the emission surface of the light emitting element. Otherwise, a light emitting device has a light emitting element, a sealing material for sealing the light emitting element, and a high-refractive index layer that contacts an emission surface of the light emitting element. The fine particles has a refractive index high than that of a material composing the emission surface of the light emitting element and that of the sealing material. A phosphor may be included in the sealing material which is adapted to emit a wavelength-converted light by being excited by a light emitted from the light emitting element. The phosphor may have a same matrix as the fine particles, and it may be formed spherical. The light emitting element may be a face-up type light emitting element or a flip-chip type light emitting element.