The present invention provides a solid electrolytic capacitor having a structure that relieves thermal stress, prevents leakage current, exhibits low impedance and ensures high reliability. The solid electrolytic capacitor element has a valve-acting metal substrate with a dielectric film and an edge part acting as an anode, an insulating layer circumferentially provided on the substrate, a solid electrolyte layer and an electrically conducting layer having a carbon paste layer and a metal powder-containing electrically conducting layer formed in this order on the entire substrate surface opposite to the anode with respect to the insulating layer and acting as a cathode. The electrically conducting layer is provided within a region of the carbon paste layer or with a spacing from the cathode side edge part of the insulating layer. The present invention also provides a method for producing the element, and a solid electrolytic capacitor using the element.