A plurality of row electrode pairs and a dielectric layer are formed on a front glass substrate. A plurality of column electrodes forming discharge cells at the intersections with the row electrode pairs in a discharge space is formed on one of a back glass substrate and the front glass substrate. Each of the discharge cells is defined and separated from another discharge cell adjacent thereto in the column direction by a transverse wall of the partition wall provided between the front glass substrate and the back glass substrate. A black- or dark-colored light absorption layer facing the front glass substrate is formed in each non-light emission area including the transverse walls in the discharge space.