A short-arc high-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp includes a pair of electrodes in an arc tube and encloses mercury, a rare gas, and so forth in the arc tube. The lamp is so constructed as to be operated at a lamp current of, for example, about 1.5 A or higher, or at a lamp voltage/lamp current ratio of about 37.5 (V/A) or lower. In addition, the distance between the electrodes, and the like are set so that the rated power per unit arc length P/d≧88 (W/mm) and the tube wall loading Pw (rated power P/internal surface area of the arc tube)≦1.0 (W/mm2). Thus, a lamp is constructed having, even with a relatively low lamp voltage, a high lamp power of, for example, 125 W or higher, having a short arc length and a high luminous flux per unit arc length, and furthermore being one in which damage to the arc tube does not occur.