A high-pressure discharge lamp includes a cathode body composed of a cathode made of tungsten or tungsten alloy and a lead rod inserted in a lead rod insertion hole of the cathode. The cathode has a carbonized layer made of tungsten carbide (W.sub.2C) formed on a surface thereof exposed to a discharge space (except for a tip portion thereof) and on an inner surface of the lead rod insertion hole. The carbonized layer contains carbon in an amount of 0.44 g/cc to 0.53 g/cc.

A high-pressure discharge lamp includes a cathode body composed of a cathode made of tungsten or tungsten alloy and a lead rod inserted in a lead rod insertion hole of the cathode. The cathode has a carbonized layer made of tungsten carbide (W.sub.2C) formed on a surface thereof exposed to a discharge space (except for a tip portion thereof) and on an inner surface of the lead rod insertion hole. The carbonized layer contains carbon in an amount of 0.44 g/cc to 0.53 g/cc.