Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common health problem mainly in developing countries. It is preceded by iron deficiency (ID), and recent studies showed that both situations may cause permanent neurological problems though they were treated. In this study, we investigated the frequency of ID and IDA among different socioeconomic groups in Istanbul. Effects of gender, nutritional practices, and adequate breast-feeding duration (>= 6 months) on development of ID and IDA were also evaluated. The study consisted of 166 children aged 5 to 36 months of life. The children were evaluated within four socioeconomic levels. The children were found as iron deficient in 24.7%, anemic with iron deficiency in 47.6%, and normal in 27.7%. Thus, 72.3% of the children were affected from ID. The frequencies of ID and IDA were not different between the socioeconomic groups (p> 0.05). Furthermore, they were also not affected by gender and nutritional practices (p> 0.05), except adequate breast-feeding duration that was significan tly found as protective (p< 0.05). Our results have indicated that ID and IDA remain important and unresolved health issues in our population. Permanent neurological/mental damages should be considered and public health policies must be developed urgently to protect our younger population, by means of our future.