A process for the continuous production of 2-octyl acrylate by a transesterification reaction between a light alcohol acrylate and 2-octanol in the presence of an alkyl titanate as transesterification catalyst and at least one polymerization inhibitor, the azeotropic mixture composed of light alcohol acrylate and of light alcohol generated by the transesterification reaction being withdrawn continuously during the reaction, the reaction mixture being subjected to a purification treatment comprising two distillation columns, in order to obtain, on the one hand, the pure 2-octyl acrylate and, on the other hand, the unreacted 2-octanol and light alcohol acrylate compounds intended to be recycled, and also the catalyst intended to be recycled, which process is characterized in that: - the catalyst is chosen from ethyl titanate in solution in 2-octanol and 2-octyl titanate; - the crude reaction mixture comprising the desired 2-octyl acrylate with, as light products, the unreacted 2-octanol and light alcohol acrylate and, as heavy products, the catalyst, the polymerization inhibitor or inhibitors and also heavy reaction products is sent to a first distillation column under reduced pressure and a distillation is carried out, in said first column, which makes it possible to obtain: o at the top, a stream composed essentially of unreacted 2-octanol and light alcohol acrylate, with a minor fraction of 2-octyl acrylate, and o at the bottom, a stream comprising 2-octyl acrylate, the catalyst, the polymerization inhibitor or inhibitors and the heavy reaction products, and traces of light compounds; then - the bottom stream from the first distillation column is sent to a second distillation column under reduced pressure, in which a distillation is carried out which makes it possible to obtain: o at the top, the desired pure 2-octyl acrylate; and o at the bottom, the catalyst, the polymerization inhibitor or inhibitors and the heavy reaction products, and 2-octyl acrylate; - the bottom stream from the second distillation column is recycled to the reaction, at least in part. - the catalyst is chosen from ethyl titanate in solution in 2-octanol and 2-octyl titanate; - the crude reaction mixture comprising the desired 2-octyl acrylate with, as light products, the unreacted 2-octanol and light alcohol acrylate and, as heavy products, the catalyst, the polymerization inhibitor or inhibitors and also heavy reaction products is sent to a first distillation column under reduced pressure and a distillation is carried out, in said first column, which makes it possible to obtain: o at the top, a stream composed essentially of unreacted 2-octanol and light alcohol acrylate, with a minor fraction of 2-octyl acrylate, and o at the bottom, a stream comprising 2-octyl acrylate, the catalyst, the polymerization inhibitor or inhibitors and the heavy reaction products, and traces of light compounds; then o at the top, a stream composed essentially of unreacted 2-octanol and light alcohol acrylate, with a minor fraction of 2-octyl acrylate, and o at the bottom, a stream comprising 2-octyl acrylate, the catalyst, the polymerization inhibitor or inhibitors and the heavy reaction products, and traces of light compounds; then - the bottom stream from the first distillation column is sent to a second distillation column under reduced pressure, in which a distillation is carried out which makes it possible to obtain: o at the top, the desired pure 2-octyl acrylate; and o at the bottom, the catalyst, the polymerization inhibitor or inhibitors and the heavy reaction products, and 2-octyl acrylate; o at the top, the desired pure 2-octyl acrylate; and o at the bottom, the catalyst, the polymerization inhibitor or inhibitors and the heavy reaction products, and 2-octyl acrylate; - the bottom stream from the second distillation column is recycled to the reaction, at least in part.