Cellulose nanofibers are produced by means of a method comprising a step (A) of oxidizing a cellulosic starting material in the presence of an N-oxyl compound and a step (B) of forming the oxidized cellulosic starting material into nanofibers by defibrating the oxidized cellulosic starting material, and a step (C) of performing at least one selected from the following steps: a step (C-1) of treating the cellulosic starting material in water having a hydroxide ion concentration of 0.75 to 3.75 mol/L prior to performing the step (A) and a step (C-2) of subjecting the oxidized cellulosic starting material obtained from the step (A) to hydrolysis in an alkaline solution having a pH between 8 and 14 after performing the step (A) and prior to performing the step (B).
