An optical fiber includes: a core at a center; a first cladding layer; a second cladding layer; and a third cladding layer. A maximum refractive index of the core is greater than any of maximum refractive indices of the first cladding layer, the second cladding layer, and the third cladding layer, and the maximum refractive index of the second cladding layer is smaller than any of the maximum refractive indices of the first and the third cladding layer. Additionally, a ratio of a.sub.2/a.sub.1 is not less than about 2.5 and not more than about 4.5, where a1 represents the radius of the core, and a2 represents the radius of an outer periphery of the first cladding layer, and a relative refractive index difference of the core with respect to a maximum refractive index of the third cladding layer is not less than 0.20% and not more than 0.70%.