An organic EL element including: an anode and a cathode disposed to face each other with a gap therebetween; a functional layer that contains an organic material and is disposed between the anode and the cathode; and an electron injection layer that has a function to inject electrons into the functional layer and is disposed between the anode and the cathode. The electron injection layer contains a metal oxide with d0 electron configuration, and a Fermi level of the electron injection layer is located in a vicinity of a lower end of a conduction band of the electron injection layer.