A light-emitting element of the present invention, includes: a porous light-emitting body including an insulator having a void and an inorganic phosphor particle; and at least two electrodes provided so as to contact with a surface of the light-emitting body. A voltage is applied to the at least two electrodes so as to generate discharge, and the light-emitting body is pumped by the discharge so as to emit light. Thereby, a light-emitting element that is reduced in a deterioration of brightness and a degradation of reliability of phosphors and does not require the vacuum encapsulation and the application of a high voltage, which are required for glow discharge, and still-higher level of thin-film technology can be provided. By arranging these light-emitting elements two-dimensionally in a matrix form, a flat display device with a simple configuration can be provided at a low cost.