A semiconductor laser diode comprises a semiconductor body having an n-region and a p-region laterally spaced apart within the semiconductor body. The laser diode is provided with an active region between the n-region and the p-region having a front end and a back end section, an n-metallisation layer located adjacent the n-region and having a first injector for injecting current into the active region, and a p-metallisation layer opposite to the n-metallisation layer and adjacent the p-region and having a second injector for injecting current into the active region. The thickness and/or width of at least one metallisation layer is chosen so as to control the current injection in a part of the active region near at least one end of the active region compared to the current injection in another part of the active region. The width of the at least one metallisation layer is larger than a width of the active region. This arrangement results in substantially uniform current distribution near the front end of the active region. Advantageously, this uniform current density significantly improves the reliability of the laser diode.