An object of the present invention is to provide an efficient method for producing cellulose nanofibers, without N-oxyl compounds such as TEMPO remaining in the cellulose nanofibers. Provided is a method for producing cellulose nanofibers, the method including: oxidizing a cellulose raw material with hypochlorous acid, or a salt thereof, having an available chlorine concentration of from 14% by mass to 43% by mass, to produce an oxidized cellulose; and fibrillating the oxidized cellulose into nanofibers.