A semiconductor light emitting element includes: an {0001} n-type semiconductor substrate formed of a III-V semiconductor, which is in a range of 0° to 45° in inclination angle into a direction, and which is in a range of 0° to 10° in inclination angle into a direction; an n-type layer formed of a III-V semiconductor on the n-type semiconductor substrate; an n-type guide layer formed of a III-V semiconductor above the n-type layer; an active layer formed of a III-V semiconductor above the n-type guide layer; a p-type first guide layer formed of a III-V semiconductor above the active layer; a p-type contact layer formed of a III-V semiconductor above the p-type first guide layer; and an concavo-convex layer formed of a III-V semiconductor between the p-type first guide layer and the p-type contact layer. The concavo-convex layer has concave portions and convex portions which are alternately and regularly arranged at a top face thereof, and has lower p-type impurity concentration than that of the p-type contact layer.