A dispersion stabilizer for suspension polymerization of vinyl compounds comprising a vinyl alcohol polymer (A) which has a saponification degree of 30 mol % or more and less than 60 mol % and a viscosity-average polymerization degree (P) of more than 200 and less than 600, and has a terminal alkyl group having 6 to 18 carbon atoms, and in which a content of monomer units having an oxyalkylene group is 0.3 mol % or less and the relationship between the viscosity-average polymerization degree (P) and a modification rate (S) (mol %) of the alkyl group satisfies Formula (1). Thus, there can be provided a dispersion stabilizer for suspension polymerization with which, during suspension polymerization of vinyl compounds including vinyl chloride, even when it is used in a small amount, the absorbency of a plasticizer is high, resulting in easy processing and formation of coarse particles is little and the remaining monomer components can be easily removed. 50≦S×P/1.880