A plasma display panel (PDP), consisting of a front panel (10) equipped with display electrodes (8) and a rear panel (4) equipped with address electrodes (3), that displays an image by causing discharge in a small discharge space formed between the two panels; wherein there are provided two layers of protective films (5, 6), made of metallic oxide, covering the dielectric layer (7) installed on the front panel (10); the outer, upper layer (6) being formed into a layer of material with a specific surface area of 20 m2/g or more and a film thickness of 1 &mgr;m or less, exhibiting a high discharge characteristic; and the inner, lower layer (5) being formed into a layer of material with a specific surface area of 10 m2/g or less and a film thickness of 1 &mgr;m or more, exhibiting a low water-adsorption characteristic.