Disclosed herein is an area light source apparatus for illuminating a liquid crystal display apparatus of the transmission type, which has a display area formed from a plurality of pixels arrayed in a two-dimensional matrix, from the back, including: a plurality of light emitting element assemblies each provided as a light source and each including a light emitting element and a lens through which light emitted from the light emitting element passes; and a plurality of dummy lenses disposed in the proximity of each of the light emitting element assemblies and configured same as the lenses of the light emitting element assemblies.