Provided is an optical element including an optical waveguide including a core formed from: a rib part; and a first and second slab parts sandwiching the rib part. The first slab part includes a P-type region, the second slab part includes an N-type region, the rib part includes a P-type region which is in contact with the P-type region provided in the first slab part, and an N-type region which is in contact with the N-type region provided in the second slab part. The rib part includes a top portion which is located above the first and second slab parts and includes an undoped region formed from at least one of an intrinsic region and a low-concentration doping region which is doped at a dopant concentration 1/10 or less of a dopant concentration in at least one of the adjacent P-type region and the adjacent N-type region.