The invention relates to a continuous method for producing neopentyl glycol by adding isobutyraldehyde and formaldehyde in the presence of a tertiary alkylamine as a catalyst to obtain hydroxy pivaldehyde, followed by gas-phase hydrogenation on a barium- and manganese-doped copper chromite catalyst at a temperature of 125 to 180 DEG C and an excess pressure of 30 to 120 kPa.