A production method of α,α-difluoroacetaldehyde according to the present invention includes reaction of an α,α-difluoroacetic acid ester with hydrogen gas (H2) in the presence of a ruthenium catalyst. It is possible to selectively obtain α,α-difluoroacetaldehyde as a partially reduced product of the hydrogenation reaction by the adoption of specific reaction conditions (in particular, reaction solvent and reaction temperature). This hydrogenation process can be alternative to the industrially unpractical hydride reduction process.