Abstract: A method for producing iron carbide by bringing iron ore into contact with a reducing gas containing hydrogen and a carbon compound at a high reaction temperature and at a reaction pressure of the atmospheric pressure or more to reduce and carburize the iron ore with the participation of a sulfur component, the method includes measuring the reaction temperature, partial pressure P(H.sub.2) of the hydrogen and partial pressure P(H.sub.2 S) of hydrogen sulfide contained in the reducing gas, calculating sulfur activity a.sub.s in the reducing gas from Equation (1) shown below, and adjusting the partial pressure P(H.sub.2 S) of the hydrogen sulfide in the reducing gas to obtain a.sub.s =1.0 to 2.0 at reaction temperatures of 550.degree. C. and above but less than 650.degree. C., a.sub.s =0.7 to 2.0 at 650.degree. C., and a.sub.s =0.05 to 1.0 at over 650.degree. C. and up to 950.degree. C.: (1) a.sub.s =(P(H.sub.2 S)/P(H.sub.2))/(P(H.sub.2 S)/P(H.sub.2)).sub.E where (P(H.sub.2 S)/P(H.sub.