For example, a display element (1) formed by an organic EL element and a control element formed by a MOS transistor (2) are connected in series between a driving line (6) to be driven with a voltage or a current and a ground. A gate of the MOS transistor (2) is connected to a control line (7) through a nonvolatile data holding section such as a ferroelectric capacitor (3), and control data of the MOS transistor (2) can be held in a floating state. As a result, the ON/OFF data of each pixel are held in the floating state, and display data are rewritten to only a pixel to be changed in a display state of ON/OFF or the like and held data are displayed on a pixel which is not changed in the display data. Consequently, it is possible to obtain a nonvolatile display device capable of reducing power consumption and operating with a small battery.