In a light emitting diode, a light-emitting region is including an active layer provided between a first conductivity type cladding layer formed on the semiconductor substrate and a second conductivity type cladding layer. A transparent conductive film made of a metal oxide is located over the light-emitting region. A layer for preventing exfoliation of the transparent conductive film, the preventing layer being made of a compound semiconductor contains at least aluminum and is located between the light-emitting region and the transparent conductive film. The layer for preventing exfoliation of the transparent conductive film contains a conductivity type determining impurity in a concentration of 1×1019 cm−3 or higher.