A DFB semiconductor laser device including an n-type semiconductor substrate and a layer structure, overlying the semiconductor substrate, including an active layer, a compound semiconductor layer constituting a diffraction grating and overlying the active layer, and an embedding layer embedding the diffraction grating, wherein said at least one of the compound semiconductor layer and the embedding layer has a carrier density of 7.times.10.sup.17 to 2.times.10.sup.18 cm.sup.-3.