A photovoltaic element is provided which has a high conversion efficiency, a low-cost producibility, a light weight and good overall characteristics in a final product form with a transparent protective member. The photovoltaic element comprises a first pin junction comprising an i-type amorphous semiconductor, a second pin junction comprising an i-type microcrystalline semiconductor, and a third pin junction comprising an i-type microcrystalline semiconductor provided in the mentioned order from a light incidence side, wherein at least a transparent protective member and a transparent electrode layer are provided on the light incidence side of the first pin junction, and wherein of the photocurrents generated at the plurality of pin junctions, the photocurrent generated at the third pin junction is the smallest.