Anemia in women of reproductive age may have serious implications for reproductive health and caregiving. In 2005, 20% of Colombian women of reproductive age had anemia but only half of those cases could be explained by iron deficiency (ID). The objective of this study was to identify additional predictors of anemia in Colombian women. Data from the 2005 National Survey of the Nutrition Situation for 3571 nonpregnant women aged 13–49 y were used. Demographic factors and household food security were considered as potential predictors. In preliminary multivariate logistic regression, region of the country other than the Atlantic coast was related to 35–80% lower likelihood of anemia. Iron deficiency (800%), higher parity (40–60%), head of household older than 40 y (30%) and higher C‐reactive protein (90%) were related to higher likelihood of anemia (p<0.05). Women in households with moderate or severe food insecurity had higher (30%) likelihood of anemia but this did not reach statistical significance (p=0.08). The identification of predictors of anemia has important programmatic implications in the creation of targeted interventions for women of reproductive age in Colombia. Funding: ICBF, Pennsylvania State University, CIAT.