Aiming at production of an optically active 3-amino nitrogen-containing compound which is useful as an intermediate in synthesis of medicines and pesticides, in particular, an optically active 1-protected-3-aminopyrrolidine derivative, from an inexpensive and readily available raw material by a process which is efficient and can be practiced industrially, an optically active 3-amino nitrogen-containing compound is produced by performing a reaction of an optically active 3-substituted nitrogen-containing compound with ammonia, methylamine, ethylamine or dimethylamine in the presence of water. In addition, a 1-protected-3-aminopyrrolidine derivative is produced by performing a reaction of an optically active 1-protected-3-(sulfonyloxy)pyrrolidine derivative with ammonia, methylamine, ethylamine, or dimethylamine in the presence of methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, or isopropanol under a pressure of less than 30 barr.