An object of the present invention is to provide a method of producing a polyarylene sulfide, which method allows for easily and efficiently providing a polyarylene sulfide in which a large number of reactive functional groups are introduced into the molecular chain. The present invention provides a method of producing a polyarylene sulfide, the method including allowing at least a dihalogenated aromatic compound, an inorganic sulfurizing agent and a compound (A) to react in an organic polar solvent, in the presence of an alkali metal hydroxide. In the present method, the compound (A) is present within the range of 0.04 moles or more and 0.5 moles or less with respect to 1 mole of the inorganic sulfurizing agent, in a reaction vessel. The compound (A) is a compound containing at least one aromatic ring, and having, on the one aromatic ring, at least one reactive functional group selected from the group consisting of amino group, carboxyl group, an acid anhydride group, isocyanate group, epoxy group and silanol group, and at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl group, a salt of hydroxyl group, thiol group and a salt of thiol group.