A switching element with bistable characteristics which has switching characteristics stabilized by raising transition probability. The switching element has an organic bistable material layer between at least two electrodes. The organic bistable material layer contains an organic bistable compound having two stable resistance values to an applied voltage, wherein the switching element has thin films of a first electrode layer, a metal microparticle-containing layer, the organic bistable material layer, and a second electrode layer, formed on a substrate in this order, and the metal microparticle-containing layer contains metal microparticles and the organic bistable compound.