A compression-ignition internal combustion engine for conducting pilot injection and main injection beyond the top dead center, wherein pilot injection quantity and timing are optimized. A compression-ignition internal combustion engine, comprising a fuel injection valve for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber in a cylinder, the quantity and timing of the fuel injected through the fuel injection valve being controlled based on engine operating conditions; wherein pilot injection is carried out prior to the top dead center of compression, main injection is then carried out beyond the top dead center of compression, and fuel injection quantity and fuel injection timing of the pilot injection are set such that the maximum rate of heat release induced by the pilot injection is 60 kJ/s or less.