Objective To understand iron deficiency anemia (IDA) status,analyze its influencing factors among children aged 6~23 months in rural minority areas in Yunnan,provide scientific references for making formulating interventions. Methods A total of 1 226 children aged 6~23 months from different poverty levels areas were recruited by using multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method,and their anthropometric measurements,hemoglobin,MCV,MCH,MCHC and ferritin levels were obtained.A caregiver questionnaire was also administered. Results Anemia prevalence rate was 47.15% among 1 226 children aged 6~23 months,IDA prevalence rate was 32.87%.There was statistical different anemia prevalence in areas with different poverty levels.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that male children had the higher risk of IDA,the risk of IDA decreased with increasing age,mother's occupations were farmers,lower income of family,without adding nutrition package for children were positively associated with children IDA. Conclusions IDA prevalence rates among 6~23 months children in rural minority areas in Yunnan are high.Poverty,poor accessibility of health care and without adding nutrition package for children are risk factors.The study suggests that parents' nutrition knowledge and feeding guidance need to be strengthened,and it is necessary to give nutrition package to wider rural young children to reduce IDA during infancy and childhood in Yunnan.