An internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders comprises a variable compression ratio mechanism A able to change a mechanical compression ratio. The control device comprises a compression ratio detector for detecting a mechanical compression ratio based on a value of the relative position parameter representing a relative positional relationship between the cylinder block 2 and a piston 4, and a compression ratio controller for feedback controlling the mechanical compression ratio so that the mechanical compression ratio becomes a target mechanical compression ratio. In feedback controlling the variable compression ratio mechanism, the compression ratio controller does not use the mechanical compression ratio detected by the compression ratio detector when a crank angle is in a predetermined crank angle range including a time period where the cylinder pressure is equal to or greater than a preset predetermined pressure at least at one cylinder among the plurality of cylinders.