An optical deflector includes: a reflecting section driven to rotate or oscillate around a drive axis; and a diffraction section configured to diffract light reflected by the reflecting section. The reflecting section is driven to change a first incident angle of light, around the drive axis, incident on the diffraction section from the reflecting section. The diffraction section changes a first emission angle of light emitted from the diffraction section, around a first axis perpendicular to the drive axis and a predetermined direction defined to extend from the reflecting section toward the diffraction section perpendicularly to the drive axis. The diffraction section is driven about the drive axis together with the reflecting section to maintain a second incident angle of light incident on the diffraction section from the reflecting section, around the first axis.