Iron status, i.e. serum ferritin and haemoglobin (Hb) levels, was assessed in a population survey in 1994 (Dan-Monica 10) comprising 1319 Caucasian Danish women in age cohorts of 40, 50, 60 and 70 years. In the entire series, ferritin levels increased significantly from 40 years to 60 years of age. The prevalence of small iron stores (ferritin 16–32 μg/l), depleted iron stores (ferritin n=109) had lower ferritin levels than non-donors (Pr s=–0.25, Pn=1208) were low in 40-year-old women (median 40 μg/l) and increased to a median of 95 μg/l in 60- and 70-year-old women (P300 μg/l) was 1.54%. Ferritin levels in 60- and 70-year-old non-donors were correlated with the body mass index (rs=0.11, P=0.01). Ferritin levels in 50- to 60-year-old non-donors were correlated with alcohol intake (rs=0.23, Pn=170) treated with acetylsalicylic acid had lower ferritin levels (median 55 μg/l) than non-treated (n=1038; median 75 μg/l) (P<0.0001). Compared with the Dan-Monica 1 iron status survey in 1984, the prevalence of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia was unchanged, whereas the prevalence of iron overload displayed a slight increase. The 1987 abolition of the mandatory iron fortification of flour apparently had no negative effect on iron status.