A deinking composition for use in the reclamation of waste paper consisting essentially of a mixture of higher fatty acids having 8 to 24 carbon atoms, or salts thereof, wherein the average carbon atom number of said fatty acids in said mixture ranges from 12.7 to 21.5, and wherein the content of higher fatty acids having 20 to 24 carbon atoms or salts thereof, ranges from 9.6 to 70.6% by weight, said mixture having an iodine value (IV) of not greater than 45.