The invention relates to an efficient photocatalyst for a bismuth vanadate nanorod and a preparation method of the catalyst. The morphology of the catalyst is rodlike, the size is nano-scale, the diameter of the nanorod is 15-30nm, the draw ratio is 5-40, the specific surface area is 28.2m<2>.g<-1>, the crystal phase is a monoclinic scheelite phase, and the growth direction is [010] direction. The preparation method comprises the following steps: firstly, dissolving bismuth nitrate pentahydrate, and sodium oleate or oleic acid into water, acutely stirring, and then adding ammonium metavanadate to a mixed solution; carrying out water heating for 6-48 hours under the condition at 70-200 DEG C, and centrifugally washing and drying to obtain the bismuth vanadate nanorod. Compared with the prior art, the synthesis method adopted by the invention is simple in equipment, convenient to operate, short in synthesis cycle, high in repeatability, few in raw material species, low in cost, environmental friendly, free of pollution and high in yield, the prepared bismuth vanadate nanorod is high in adsorption capacity, and the toxic pollutants and decomposition water can be abnormally efficiently degraded under radiation of an ultraviolet light, a visible light and a natural light.