An electron emission element has an electron emission layer that emits an electron from a surface emission portion, a focusing electrode layer that is film-formed on a surface of the electron emission layer via a first insulation layer and focuses the emitted electron, a gate electrode layer that is film-formed on a surface of the focusing electrode layer via a second insulation layer, an emission concave portion that penetrates the gate electrode layer, the second insulation layer, the focusing electrode layer and the first insulation layer and opens in a concave shape on a surface of the surface emission portion, a carbon layer that is film-formed from a surface of the gate electrode layer over an inner peripheral surface of the emission concave portion, and a partial insulation portion that insulates the focusing electrode layer from the carbon layer.