A light emitting device and a method of increasing the light output of the device utilize a chirped multi-well active region to increase the probability of radiative recombination of electrons and holes within the light emitting active layers of the active region by altering the electron and hole distribution profiles within the light emitting active layers of the active region (i.e., across the active region). The chirped multi-well active region produces a higher and more uniform distribution of electrons and holes throughout the active region of the device by substantially offsetting carrier diffusion effects caused by differences in electron and hole mobility by using complementary differences in layer thickness and/or layer composition within the active region. Thus, the chirped design of the multi-well active region increases the probability of radiative recombination of electrons and holes within the light emitting active layers of the active region, which results in an increased light output of the device. The multi-well active region of the device may be chirped with respect to light emitting active layers and/or barrier layers of the active region. The light emitting device may be a III-V material LED, a II-VI material LED, a polymer or organic LED, a laser diode or an optical amplifier.