To realize an organic EL device having an excellent electron injection efficiency, improved luminous efficiency, low operating voltage, and low cost, the invention provides an organic EL device comprising a hole injecting electrode, an electron injecting electrode, and at least one organic layer between the electrodes, at least one of the organic layer having a light emitting function. The device further has a high resistance inorganic electron injecting layer between the electron injecting electrode and the organic layer. The high resistance inorganic electron injecting layer contains as a first component an oxide of at least one element selected from alkali metal elements, alkaline earth metal elements and lanthanide elements, having a band gap of up to 4 eV and as a second component at least one element selected from Ru, V, Zn, Sm, and In and is capable of blocking holes and has conduction paths for carrying electrons.