A compact fluorescent lamp comprises a fluorescent tube having a helical portion on at least a part thereof and turned down in the middle, a pair of tube ends thereof each provided with a discharge electrode, the pair of tube ends juxtaposing with each other in the same direction, a holder for holding the tube ends so as that the fluorescent tube is supported at the one side thereof, a lighting device for supplying a high-frequency power to the fluorescent tube, the lighting device comprising a circuit board facing the other side of the holder and circuit elements mounted on the circuit board, a cover for accommodating the lighting device, the cover opening at both ends and holding the holder at the one opening end, and a cap fixed to the other opening end of the cover for supplying a commercial power to the lighting device by being mounted to a socket of luminaire, wherein a thin tube is protruded from at least one of the tube ends of the fluorescent tube in the cover, and the thin tube is communicated with the fluorescent tube.