An AC-driven electroluminescent element includes a pair of electrodes and a light emission layer being located between the pair of electrodes and containing particles and a filler with which gaps between the particles are filled. The particles are densely arranged in the light emission layer in such a manner that the particles are fused with each other or in mechanical or electrical contact with each other, and the ratio of the volume occupied by the particles to the volume occupied by the filler in the light emission layer is 1.0 or greater. Each particle has a portion made of a fluorescent material. When the outermost surfaces of all of the particles are not made of a dielectric material, at least one insulation layer is arranged on at least one side of the light emission layer.