A optical modulation element includes a substrate made of a material different from lithium niobate, a lithium niobate film formed on a main surface of the substrate, the lithium niobate film including a Mach-Zehnder-type optical waveguide having a first ridge and a second ridge that function as a first optical waveguide and a second optical waveguide, respectively, wherein both the first ridge and the second ridge having a cross-sectional shape fixed portion, at least one of the first ridge and the second ridge having a cross-sectional shape non-fixed portion in which the cross-sectional shape is different from that of the cross-sectional shape fixed portion, and the optical output obtained when the DC bias voltage applied between the first electrode and the second electrode is 0 (V) is smaller than the maximum of the optical output obtained when the DC bias voltage is changed in a predetermined voltage range.