The objective of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell gas diffusion layer that achieves both performance and durability. The present invention provides a gas diffusion electrode that has amicroporous layer, said electrode being characterized in that: the microporous layer has at least a first microporous layer and second microporous layer; the cross-sectional F/C ratio of the first microporous layer is 0.06-0.33, inclusive; the cross-sectional F/C ratio of the second microporous layer is less than 0.06; and when the first microporous layer is bisected into a portion that does not make contact with the second microporous layer and a portion that makes contact with the second microporous layer, the side of the bisected first microporous layer that does not make contact with the second microporous layer is termed microporous layer 1-1 and the side that makes contact with the second microporous layer is termed microporous layer 1-2, and the cross-sectional F/C ratio of microporous layer 1-1 is lower than the cross-sectional F/C ratio of microporous layer 1-2.