To provide a
light emitting device that makes it possible to form a surface light emitting apparatus of less unevenness in luminance.The
light emitting device 10 of the present invention comprises a light emitting element 30, connecting terminals 21a, 21b connected with the light emitting element30, a
package 12 which has a recess 40 wherein the light emitting element 30 is mounted and from which a part of each connecting terminal 21a, 21b is projected outward, an opening 41 of the recess 40 being elongated in one direction, wherein both side walls of the recess 40 positioned in the longitudinal direction of the recess 40 are inclined surface 43, an angle θ between both the inclined surfaces 43 being 90 degrees or more. In the
light emitting device 10 of the present invention, light emitted by the light emitting element 30 is spread sufficiently in the longitudinal direction of the opening 41 so as to produce a band-
shaped beam. As a result, when a plurality of light emitting devices 10 are disposed along the longitudinal direction of the light receiving surface 72 of the
light guide plate 71 for constituting the surface light emitting apparatus 70, unevenness in luminance can be suppressed from occurring as dark portions are less likely to be generated between adjacent light emitting devices 10.