Background: Anemia is reported by many studies as an important risk factor for poor locoregional disease control and survival in head and neck carcinoma. We aimed to study the frequency and prognostic effect of low hemoglobin (Hb) level in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) before radiotherapy (RT) and/or chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Material and Methods: We retrospectively studied the charts of 86 patients diagnosed with laryngeal and hypopharyngeal SCC in a university hospital in Cairo, Egypt. Based on the World Health Organization (WHO), anemia was diagnosed in males at Hb levels 12 g/dl in 7/11 (63.6%) patients. Pre-RT/CRT Hb level in male patients was 13 g/dl in 44/75 (58.7%). Tumor sites were larynx in 77 (89.5%) and hypopharynx in 9 (10.5%) patients. Disease stage 3, 4 was common in 59/86 (68.6%) patients. Thirty-six (41.8%) patients had surgery. 13/86 (15.1%) patients received induction chemotherapy, while 31/86 (36.0%) had concomitant chemoradiotherapy. Radiotherapy was given in 65/86 (75.58%) patients. The mean RT dose was 66 Gy. Non-anemic patients had significant higher inci-dence of complete response (CR) to treatment (p = 0.034). 25.8% of male pa-tients with Hb 13 g/dl (p = 0.403). Female patients whether anemic or non-anemic had no recurrence (p = 0.036 and p = 0.403 respectively). The median duration of DFS and OS was 6.52 and 9.33 months respectively. Pretreatment Hb level had statistical significant effect on response to treatment and overall survival, but not disease free survival. Conclusion: Nutritional anemia is common in developing countries. Our results support the positive prognostic effect of Hb level > 12 g/dl and >13 g/dl before radiation therapy and/or chemoradiotherapy on response to treatment and overall survival but not the disease free survival.