Rare gas fluorescent lamp

The present rare gas fluorescent lamp can prevent reduction of an effective light-emitting region by securely suppressing creeping discharge even when a conductive material is provided to improve starting performance. The rare gas fluorescent lamp having a light-emitting tube whose inner surface is coated by a fluorescent material and which is filled with a rare gas, a plurality of external electrodes which are provided on an outer surface of the light-emitting tube, a conductive material, which is provided at an end portion of the light-emitting tube that corresponds to a portion on which the external electrodes are arranged, the rare gas fluorescent lamp, and a creeping discharge prevention unit that is provided inward of the conductive material in an axial direction to prevent diffusion of creeping discharge occurring between the conductive material and electrical charges stored on the inner surface of the light-emitting tube.