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Vertebral fractures are the one typically seen in osteoporosis. An incidence of vertebral body fractures and risk factors for osteoporosis were analysed in the retrospective population based epidemiological study. Population sample included 607 Warsaw inhabitants aged between 50 and 80 years (301 women and 306 men divided into age groups of 5 years, including approx. 50 subjects each). Vertebral body fractures were diagnosed on thoraco-lumbar spine X-rays made in the lateral projection. Risk factors for osteoporosis were analysed with the aid of an questionnaire. Bone mineral density was measured with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and single photon absorptiometry in about 1/3 of the examined women. The prevalence of vertebral osteoporosis was high in both women (20.5%) and in men (27.8%). Low dietary calcium intake (below 800 mg daily) and low serum vitamin D levels (250HD less than 11 micrograms/ml) were characteristic for about 90% of the examined population. In osteoporotic subjects the following risk factors were significantly more frequent: age (p < 0.01), tobacco smoking (p < 0.001), low physical activity (p < 0.05), long-term immobilization (p < 0.01). Densitometry showed significantly lower bone mineral density in both women with vertebral fractures (p < 0.01) and low serum vitamin D levels (p < 0.05). Osteoporotic vertebral fractures were diagnosed more frequently in women with early menopause (p < 0.001). In the examined population there is a ligh prevalence of vertebral osteoporosis (predominating in mean) and risk factors.