An objective of the present invention is to provide an optical amplifier having a cladding excitation configuration that improves amplification efficiency. The optical amplifier includes an optical amplification unit 36 in which n (n is a natural number equal to or greater than 2) amplification fibers 34 that optically amplify signal light propagating through cores with excitation light supplied to claddings and n−1 optical input/output units 35 that input/output the signal light to/from the cores and the outside of the amplification fibers 34 are connected in series such that the amplification fibers 34 and the optical input/output units 35 are disposed in an alternating manner, an excitation light generator 31 that outputs the excitation light in multi-mode, and optical multiplexer/demultiplexers 33 that cause the excitation light from the excitation light generator 31 that has been divided into two light beams to be incident on the claddings of the amplification fibers 34 disposed at both ends of the optical amplification unit 36 and cause the signal light to be input to/output from the cores of the amplification fibers 34 disposed at both ends of the optical amplification unit 36.