An organic electroluminescent element comprising: a pair of electrodes; and at least one organic layer provided between the pair of electrodes, at least one of the at least one organic layer being a light emitting layer, wherein the light emitting layer comprises at least one transition metal complex represented by the formula (1), (2), (3), (4) or (5) as defined herein or an iridium complex represented by the formula (A), (6), (7) or (8) as defined herein.