Owing to its favourable decay characteristics ¹⁷⁵Yb (T_1/2 =4.2d, E_β(max)= 480 keV) can be regarded as a potential radionuclide for therapeutic applications. Production of ¹⁷⁵Yb using (¹⁷⁴Yb(nγ)¹⁷⁵Yb) reaction by thermal neutron bombardment on natural ytterbium target is described. The activity of ¹⁷⁵Yb produced as well as its radionuclidic purity under different irradiation conditions were determined by γ-ray spectrometry using an HPGe 4K MCA system and compared with theoretically calculated values. The radiochemical purity after chemical processing was determined by paper chromatography as well as paper electrophoresis techniques. It is found that 31 Ci/g (1145 GBq/g) of 175Yb can be produced with >95% radionuclidic purity (with ~3% of ¹⁶⁹Yb and ~2% of ¹⁷⁷Lu) by irradiating natural Yb₂O₃ target at a thermal neutron flux of ~3x10¹³ n/cm²/s for a period of 5 d.