An ink composition for ballpoint pens comprises a coloring agent, a liquid medium, a polyoxyethylene castor oil and/or a polyoxyethylene hardened castor oil, or a derivative thereof, and one compound or a mixture of two or more compounds selected from the group consisting of a monoalkyl ether phosphoric acid, a polyoxyethylene monoalkyl ether phosphoric acid, a dialkyl ether phosphoric acid, a polyoxyethylene dialkyl ether phosphoric acid, a trialkyl ether phosphoric acid, and a polyoxyethylene trialkyl ether phosphoric acid.