We have demonstrated the effect of p-GaN hole concentration on a graphene current spreading layer (CSL) for stabilization and improved performance of a near-ultraviolet light-emitting diode (NUV LED). While NUV LEDs with a more lightly-doped p-GaN showed poor electrical and optical properties and unstable performance, NUV LEDs with more heavily-doped p-GaN (similar to 2 x 10(17) cm(-3)) showed very stable, outstanding performance. The main factor of the improvement was the enhanced contact property between the graphene CSLs and the p-GaN that resulted from the increase of the hole concentration, which led to a thinner barrier and an enhanced current injection. From our results, we were able to determine that hole concentration as heavy as 2 x 10(17) cm(-3) in p-GaN layers is a primary condition in NUV LEDs with graphene-based CSLs. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.