Provided is a dialkyl carbonate production method that enables a dialkyl carbonate to be produced in a simple manner and in a short reaction time and enables easy processing of by-products. This dialkyl carbonate production method involves generation reaction of a carbonate ester through reaction between carbon dioxide and an alcohol represented by formula (1), wherein the generation reaction of a carbonate ester is performed in the presence of a carbodiimide compound represented by formula (2) (R1-R3 in the formula are as described in the description of the present application).

[Chemical formula 1]

R1—OH  (1)

[Chemical formula 2]

R2—N═C═N—R3  (2)