Who suffers from iron deficiency?
Iron deficiency is the most common micronutrient deficiency in the world. However, global data for iron deficiency does not exist, and anemia is used as an indirect indicator. Globally, anemia affects more than 1.6 billion people, or approximately 25% of the population. In developing countries, approximately 50% of anemia in the population is thought to be due to iron-deficiency, but the proportion may vary among population groups and in different areas according to local conditions.

Therefore, the WHO estimates that most preschool children and pregnant women in developing countries (and at least 30 to 40% in developed countries) are iron deficient. The highest prevalence of anemia is in preschool-age children (47%); however, the population group with the greatest number of anemic individuals is non-pregnant women (468 million). Likewise, the highest proportion of individuals affected is in Africa (48 to 68%), while the greatest number affected is in South-East Asia (315 million). In both instances, the problem is evidently linked to poverty.

Why do we need iron?
Iron deficiency during childhood and adolescence impairs physical growth, mental development, and learning capacity. In adults, it reduces the capacity to do physical labor. Severe anemia increases the risk of women dying in childbirth.

Anaemia prevalence and number of individuals affected by group

Population groups: Preschool-age children (0 to <5 years),pregnant women(no age defined) non-pregnant women(15 to <50)

Source: Worldwide Prevalence of Anaemia 1993-2005, World Health Organization, 2008