Backlight device and display device

A backlight device, comprising:

• a backlight including a plurality of light sources;
• and
• a backlight control part for controlling the backlight, wherein:
• the backlight includes a plurality of divided areas, and light sources disposed in each of the plurality of divided areas are chain-connected;
• the backlight control part comprises at least one backlight control means for controlling turning on and off of the backlight which includes the plurality of divided areas, with respect to the each of the plurality of divided areas;
• the at least one backlight control means comprises:
• selection means for selecting one of the plurality of divided areas;
• and
• at least one backlight drive path;
• and
• the selection means selects the one of the plurality of divided areas in a time division manner, and the light sources of the one of the plurality of divided areas are driven by sharing the at least one backlight drive path in common.