Emission of a surface light source device is prevented from having brightness-unevenness, having a uniformalized brightness. A plurality of LEDs are disposed opposite to an incidence face of a light guide plate. A reflection sheet is disposed along a back face of the light guide plate while a cover member for the LEDs is disposed on an emission face in the vicinity incidence face. A light diffusion member, first and second light control members are laminated disposed along a part of the emission face which is not covered by the cover member. A top of the reflection sheet is secluded a predetermined distance L from the incidence face to provided a part which is not covered by the reflection sheet in the vicinity of the incidence face. The predetermined distance L may be given, for example, by L=2h·tan θ (where h=thickness of light guide plate at incidence face, θ=critical angle at an interface between light guide plate and air.