PURPOSE: To produce a higher alcohol under relatively mild condition in high selectivity and yield by reacting a corresponding higher fatty acid ester with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst containing Ru, Sn and iron and/or rhenium as essential components.

CONSTITUTION: A higher alcohol is produced by reacting a higher fatty acid ester with hydrogen at 180-300°C under a hydrogen pressure of 50-200kg/cm2 using a catalyst containing Ru, Sn and Fe and/or Re as essential components. The atomic ratio (Sn/Ru) in the catalyst is preferably 1-5 and the atomic ratio (Fe and/or Re/Ru) is preferably 1/10 to 50. The catalyst is produced by supporting raw material compound of each metal component (e.g. mineral acid salt) on an inorganic porous carrier (e.g. alumina) in an amount of 0.1-10wt.%. A catalyst having further improved activity can be produced by reducing the supported catalyst with NaBH4 in liquid phase optionally after baking.