A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate arranged on a viewer side, and a liquid crystal between the first and second substrates. A light guide plate is arranged on a back surface of the first substrate, a polarization plate is arranged between the first substrate and the light guide plate, and a prism sheet is arranged between the light guide plate and the polarization plate with prisms being provided on a light guide plate side thereof. A diffusion layer is arranged between the prism sheet and the polarization plate, and a light control sheet is arranged between the diffusion layer and the polarization plate. The light control sheet, which is a λ/2 retardation plate, rotates a polarization of light emitted from the diffusion layer, is arranged in contact with the polarization plate.