This article presents findings from a meta-analysis assessing the proportion of anemia that is attributable to iron deficiency. Data from 23 countries was pooled for pre-school children and non-pregnant women of reproductive age and the proportion of anemia attributable to iron deficiency was estimated by region, inflammation exposure, anemia prevalence, and setting. For pre-school children and non-pregnant women of
reproductive age, the proportion of anemia associated with iron
deficiency was about one quarter and one third, respectively. The proportion of anemia associated with iron deficiency was lower in countries where anemia prevalence was >40%,
especially in rural populations, and in countries with very high
inflammation exposure.