The Fe-doped near-stoichiometric LiNbO3 crystal has been grown from the Li-rich melt by Czochralski method. The UV-Vis absorption spectra, IR transmittance spectra and X-ray diffraction were measured and used to study the defect structure of the crystal. Compared with that of congruent Fe:LiNbO3, in near-stoichiometric Fe:LiNbO3, the lattice parameter reduces, the basal absorption edge shifts towards shorter wavelength, and the OH stretching vibration absorption band shifts towards the lower wavenumber side (3466 cm(-1)) in the Fe-doped near-stoichiometric LiNbO3. (C) 2004 Kluwer Academic Publishers