A backlight unit and a display device includes a light source which generates light used by a display panel to display an image; and a light guide plate which receives the light from the light source and emits the light through a light emission surface thereof. The light guide plate includes: a base layer; a light transmitting layer on the base layer and defining the light emission surface of the light guide plate; and a light transmitting particle provided in plurality between the base layer and the light transmitting layer. The light transmitting particle has a refractive index higher than a refractive index of the light transmitting layer.