A diffusion plate, a lighting device and a liquid crystal display element by which light from a light source can be utilized efficiently and a beautiful image can be obtained. A diffusion plate by which incident light is diffused and which contains powder having interference light whose wavelength range is approximately the same as the absorption wavelength range, a diffusion plate which contains at least two types of powder whose interference colors are complementary to each other and a liquid crystal display element employing such diffusion plates.