An image processing apparatus includes a degree-of-degradation detector, a correction coefficient calculator and an adaptive gradation correction unit. The degree-of-degradation detector detects a degree of degradation of image quality for each of areas included in image data and having predetermined size. The correction coefficient calculator calculates a correction coefficient for gradation correction, for each of the areas of the image data. The adaptive gradation correction unit performs adaptive gradation correction appropriate to the degree of degradation of the image data, based on the degree of degradation detected by the degree-of-degradation detector and the correction coefficient calculated by the correction coefficient calculator.