In an internal combustion engine of the present invention, an exhaust purification catalyst (13) and a hydrocarbon supply valve (15) are disposed in an engine exhaust path, and NOx contained in exhaust gas is purified by injecting hydrocarbon from the hydrocarbon supply valve (15) at a predetermined cycle. With respect to the injection amount per unit time of the hydrocarbon from the hydrocarbon supply valve (15), there is a difference provided between the first half and the second half of one injection time period, and in the first-half injection time period (Y), the injection amount per unit time of hydrocarbon is made to be less as compared to the second-half injection time period (X).