A nitride semiconductor light-emitting element is disclosed. An n type AlGaN cladding layer is grown on a GaN substrate, and an InGaN active layer of a quantum well structure is grown on the n type AlGaN cladding layer at a temperature of about 800° C. or less. Subsequently, a buffer layer of any one of GaN, AlGaN, and InGaN is grown on the InGaN active layer at a temperature of about 900° C. or less. A p type AlGaN cladding layer and a p type GaN electrode layer are sequentially grown on the buffer layer. A p type electrode is formed over the p type GaN electrode layer while an n type electrode is formed below the substrate or over the n type cladding layer. Thus, the nitride semiconductor light-emitting element having high efficiency optical characteristic and thermal characteristic can be obtained.