A plasma display panel is constructed with a first substrate on which images are displayed, a second substrate disposed facing and spaced apart from the first substrate by a certain distance, a plurality of barrier ribs disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate to define a plurality of discharge cells, a plurality of discharge electrodes extending along lines of the discharge cells, a plurality of phosphor layers formed on interior walls of the discharge cells, an optical reflective layer disposed between the phosphor layers and the second substrate, and a discharge gas filling the discharge cells. The optical reflective layer reflects the visible light that is radiated toward the second substrate, along the image display direction, i.e., towards the first substrate. In addition, the barrier ribs are made from a material having a high optical transmittance that does not absorb the visible light.