To provide an image coding apparatus that can generate a code that can be decoded by a general decoding apparatus while attaining a high coding speed. As a result of processing in a plurality of prediction units 21, a control unit 11 generates a predicted pixel value for a pixel of interest based on a pixel value of a predicting pixel located at a distance from the pixel of interest, the distance being predetermined for each pixel value prediction unit 21, counts, as a run-length for each pixel value prediction unit 21, the number of times that the pixel value of the pixel of interest successively correspond with the predicted pixel value, selects any of pixel value prediction units related to a run-length of one pixel or more, and outputs a code by referring to a predetermined code table with respect to a distance between the pixel of interest and the predicting pixel for the selected pixel value prediction unit 21 and the run-length thereof. The code table is defined to include, as a redundant code, a code related to a distance other than the distances between the pixel of interest and the predicting pixels.