In an electric double layer capacitor and electrolytic solution, decomposition of at least one of an open-chain carbonate and a cyclic carbonate can be controlled under high temperature conditions, initial performance and maintained ratio of capacitance are superior, and energy density is high, when graphitized alkali-activated carbon is used as an electrode material and at least one of an open-chain carbonate and a cyclic carbonate is used in an organic electrolytic solution. The electric double layer capacitor includes electrodes containing alkali-activated carbon including graphitized carbon material, and an organic electrolytic solution in which a supporting salt is dissolved in solvent including aromatic carboxylate and at least one of an open-chain carbonate and a cyclic carbonate, in which the content of the aromatic carboxylate is not more than 50 weight % relative to the total weight of the solvent.