The rates of blackbody rediation induced transitions and spontaneous transitions of Rydberg states and Stark states of ytterbium have been calculated by the method of numerical integration based on the hydrogenic model. The calculated results are compared with experimental data measured by using delayed electric field ionization. In addition, we have chosen the typically initial states to observe the distribution of repopulations among nearby states and given theoretical explanation. The availability of the hydrogenic model when applied to highly-excited states of complex atoms is discussed.