Disclosed is an optical fiber comprising a center core which forms a passageway for transmitting optical signals and has a refractive index N₁, and a cladding which encloses the center core and has a refractive index N₀. The optical fiber further comprises an upper core, which has a distribution of refractive indices increased starting from a refractive index N₂ (N₀) at its outer circumference to the refractive index N₁ at its internal circumference, and a minutely depressed refractive index region, which is interposed between said upper core and cladding and has a refractive index N₃. The refractive index N₃ is lower than the refractive index N₀.