The present invention relates to a 3-hydroxymethylcycloalkanol of the following formula (1), and a process for production of a 3-hydroxymethylcycloalkanol of the formula (1) by reduction of 3-formylcycloalkanone or 3-formylcycloalkenone. In accordance with the present invention, 3-hydroxymethylcycloalkanol, which is useful as the starting material for the production of polymers, can be produced with high conversion and high selectivity.