Polyarylene sulfide production method, and polyarylene sulfide produced using production method

A production method for producing polyarylene sulfide, wherein it is possible to recover and reuse an unreacted dihalo aromatic compound. A production method for producing polyarylene sulfide including (a) a polymerization step, (b) a separation step, and (c) a recovery step for recovering an unreacted dihalo aromatic compound from a water-containing mixture comprising a water-containing liquid mixture containing the separated liquid, by using steam distillation for adjusting the water reflux ratio in a steam distillation column without adding any water other than the refluxing water. Alternatively, a production method for producing polyarylene sulfide including (a) a polymerization step, (d) a dehydration step, and (c) a recovery step for, during the dehydration step, recovering an unreacted dihalo aromatic compound from a water-containing mixture comprising a water-containing steam mixture and/or a water-containing liquid mixture containing a polymerization reaction liquid and/or a starting material mixture, by using steam distillation for adjusting the water reflux ratio in a steam distillation column without adding any water other than the refluxing water.