A surface light source unit (3) includes a light source (31) and a light guide plate (30). The light guide plate includes a light incidence surface (301) for receiving light beams, an emission surface (302) for emitting the light beams, and a bottom surface (303) for scattering and diffusing the light beams. A plurality of diffusion dots (311) is formed on the bottom surface and a plurality of protrusions (312) parallel to the light incidence surface is formed on the emission surface with decreasing an interval between two adjacent protrusions as goes away from the light incidence surface. The amount (N) of the protrusions satisfies a condition of N=R/220, wherein R is a distance from the light incidence surface to an opposite surface of the light guide plate. The surface light source unit provides uniform illumination and high brightness for a liquid crystal display panel.