An organic electroluminescent (EL) element includes: a first electrode; an interlayer formed above the first electrode; an organic light-emitting layer formed using the interlayer as a foundation; and a second electrode formed above the organic light-emitting layer. The organic light-emitting layer contains at least a host material and a dopant material. The interlayer is formed using a material which has an energy gap larger than an energy gap of the dopant material and a highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) level deeper than a HOMO level of the dopant material.