To provide: a gas-liquid contactor capable of reducing the gas-liquid maldistribution inside the device and of preventing reduction in gas absorption characteristics, even if the overall device has increased in size; and a CO 2 recovery device. This gas-liquid contactor (100) comprises: a plurality of packing material sections (110) through which exhaust gas (11) passes; and a plurality of liquid distributors (120) provided upon each of the plurality of packing material sections (110), dispersing a CO 2 absorption liquid (14) caused to come in contact with the exhaust gas (11), and supplying the CO 2 absorption liquid (14) to the plurality of packing material sections (110). The plurality of packing material sections (110) include a first packing material layer (111) and a second packing material layer (112) that have provided therein flowpaths (111a, 112a) for the CO 2 absorption fluid (14) that each extend in prescribed directions (D2, D3). The first packing material layer (111) and the second packing material layer (112) are characterized by being laminated such that the directions (D2, D3) of extension of the flowpaths (111a, 112a) in the flow direction (D1) for the exhaust gas (11) are different from each other.