To provide a fluorescent lamp in which the discharge is easily stabilized, flickering in brightness is little, and the shape is compact.

The translucent discharge container 1 comprises a tubular outer surrounding part 1a having the closed top 1a1 and a peripheral side face 1a2, an inner surrounding part 1b which is formed as a tubular shape having a closed top and a peripheral side face housed in the outer surrounding part 1a, and forms a space between each tops 1a1 and 1b1, and between the peripheral side faces 1a2 and 1b2, and an annular part 1c for forming a cap-like discharge space 1d by connecting the base of the outer surrounding part 1a with the base of the inner surrounding part 1b in airtight. The fluorescent lamp comprises the translucent discharge container 1, a discharge medium capable of producing excimer molecules enclosed in the translucent discharge container 1, a phosphor layer 2 arranged so as to be excited by the ultraviolet ray radiated with the discharge of a dielectric barrier, and a pair of electrodes 3, 4 arranged on the tops 1a1, 1b1 and outer peripheral side faces 1a2, b2 of the translucent discharge container 1.