In an acrylic acid production process which comprises the step of producing acrylic acid by catalytic vapor-phase oxidation of propane, propylene, and/or acrolein; and purifying the acrylic acid produced in the step of producing with distillation in the presence of the polymerization inhibitor for preventing polymerization of the acrylic acid, a viscosity at 20 C. of the bottoms which comprises the polymerization inhibitor, discharged in the step of purifying, is adjusted to 2 Pas (2,000 cP) or less and the polymerization inhibitor is extracted using an aqueous medium. According to the method, in an acrylic acid production process, an extraction operation for recovery of the polymerization inhibitor can be continuously conducted in a stable manner.