An organic electroluminescent (EL) device comprising at least one luminescent layer of an organic compound, the luminescent layer being positioned between a cathode electrode and an anode electrode opposed to the cathode electrode, and an organic layer positioned adjacent to the cathode electrode, in which the organic layer is constituted from an organic metal complex compound containing at least one of alkali metal ions, alkali earth metal ions and rare earth metal ions, and the cathode electrode is constituted from a metal capable of reducing the metal ion in the complex compound, in vacuum, to the corresponding metal. The cathode electrode can be formed from a low cost and stable metal which is well-known as the wiring material. The EL device ensures a diminished energy barrier in an electron injection from the cathode electrode into the luminescent layer, a lowered driving voltage, and a high efficiency and luminescence.