A method for producing a vinyl polymer by suspension-polymerizing a vinyl compound in the presence of a dispersion stabilizer, wherein the dispersion stabilizer contains a polyvinyl alcohol and a composition containing a modified polyvinyl alcohol and a compound; the modified polyvinyl alcohol contains double bonds derived from an unsaturated carboxylic acid or a derivative thereof in side chains; the compound is a compound having two or more hydroxy groups bonded to a conjugated double bond; the modified polyvinyl alcohol has a saponification degree and a viscosity-average polymerization degree different from those of the polyvinyl alcohol; a content of the compound in the composition is 0.001 parts by mass or more and less than 5 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the modified polyvinyl alcohol; and a mass ratio of the composition to the polyvinyl alcohol is 50/50 to 90/10.