A polyvinyl alcohol has a number-average molecular weight (Mn) from 4,400 to 440,000, a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) from 1.05 to 1.70, a degree of saponification from 80 to 99.99 mol %, and a carbon-carbon double bond content (X) of 0.1 mol % or less based on total monomer units, and satisfying a formula (1) below. A polyvinyl alcohol, having a narrow molecular weight distribution and a high number-average molecular weight with good hue, and a method for producing the same are thus provided. X·Mn≤1000  (1)