The present invention aims to provide a method of producing a solar cell which can produce a porous inorganic oxide layer that has a high porosity and contains less impurities even by low-temperature firing. The present invention also aims to provide a solar cell produced by the method of producing a solar cell. The present invention directs to a method of producing a solar cell. The method includes: applying an inorganic oxide paste that contains inorganic oxide fine particles, a binder resin, and an organic solvent to a surface of a base to form an inorganic oxide layer on the base, the base including a conductive layer as an outermost layer thereof, the surface being a conductive layer-side surface; firing the inorganic oxide layer; irradiating the inorganic oxide layer with active energy rays or subjecting the inorganic oxide layer to ozonolysis to form a porous inorganic oxide layer; and laminating a semiconductor on the porous inorganic oxide layer.