IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS

An image processing apparatus of the present invention includes: a background density distribution estimating part 12 that estimates density distribution of background pixels; an area density distribution estimating part 13 that estimates density distribution in each of areas into which an input image is divided; an entry existence judging part 14 that judges the existence or not of the entry of predetermined information based on the density distribution of the background pixels and the density distribution in the relevant area; and a judgment result output part 15 that outputs a judgment result indicating whether or not there exists the entry of the predetermined information in the area being the judgment target of the entry existence judging part 14.