An organic electroluminescent element containing an anode and a cathode having therebetween a light emitting layer containing a phosphorescent compound, and hole blocking layer 1 provided adjacent to the light emitting layer and between the light emitting layer and the cathode, wherein hole blocking layer 1 contains a phosphorescent compound; and a content of the phosphorescent compound contained in hole blocking layer 1 is in the range of 0.1 to 50% of a content of the phosphorescent compound contained in the light emitting layer.