A fluorescent lamp lighting apparatus according to the present invention comprises an initial illuminance correction control circuit which sets a fluorescent lamp to an initial illuminance correction control lighting mode, a switching portion which changes the fluorescent lamp from the initial illuminance correction control lighting mode to an external control dimming mode when a predetermined external dimming signal is detected, and a control portion which gradually dimming so as to achieve a dimming level of a switched mode when switching the initial illuminance correction control lighting mode and the external control dimming mode, and control so as to achieve a dimming level corresponding to a cumulative lighting time of the fluorescent lamp when the changed mode is the initial illuminance correction control lighting mode.