An elongated lighting apparatus includes: a light source (linear light source); and an elongated optical component which transmits light emitted from the light source. The optical component has an elongated entrance surface where the light from the light source enters and an elongated exit surface where the light which has entered the entrance surface exits. The optical component includes light diffusers. Among the light diffusers, at least one of light diffusers disposed near a first end of the optical component diffuses the light from the light source, toward the first end side of the optical component more widely than (i) light diffusers disposed near a second end of the optical component do or (ii) light diffusers disposed near the center of the optical component do. The first and second ends, and the center of the optical component are in the longitudinal direction of the optical component.