This would be analogous to the change in the color of the sky, from the blue given by the Rayleigh scattering of sunlight by small gas molecules when the sky is clear, to the gray caused by Mie scattering of large water droplets when the sky is cloudy. Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer -- 48 percent of female CEOs on the S&P 500 sport blonde locks. It is, therefore, interesting to note how eye colors vary worldwide and the different percentages of people in the world that have brown, blue, hazel, amber, green, and gray eyes. Thats true for people of every eye color. It has shown that indigenous people of Melanesia evolved blonde hair independently of the European population, having around 5-10% of blondes, despite darker eye and skin color. A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of your eye (the clear part of the eye that helps to focus light). Almost everyone (even people with blue or green eyes) has brown pigment in the back layer of the iris. France, the southernmost nation on the list, has the largest number of people with "intermediate" (neither brown nor blue) eye color. Normal eye colors range from the darkest shades of brown to the lightest tints of blue. About half of people living in the U.S. and a higher population in Africa, and Asia are brown-eyed. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. 2000-2023 AAV Media, LLC. Green eyes: The most attractive eye color? [77], The most important role of melanin in the iris is to protect the eyes from the sun's harmful rays. Although people with lighter eye color are generally more sensitive to light because they have less pigment in the iris to protect them from sunlight, there is little to no evidence that eye color has a direct impact on vision qualities such as visual acuity. Gray eyes are common in parts of Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and among the Algerian Shawia people in Northwest Africa. The total number of genes that contribute to eye color is unknown, but there are a few likely candidates. Effortless urban style, with expert craftsmanship - clothing, shoes & apparel for men & women from rag & bone. From 6-36 months, cells in the iris start producing melanin and the eye color will change. See More by this Creator. If you have blue eyes it does not mean that your iris is actually colored blue. That's called phototoxicity. [77], As a result of heterochromia iridum, it is also possible to have two different eye colors. The content on this site is for informational purposes only. Because blue eyes contain less melanin than most other eye colors, they may be more at risk of certain damage. Dissection reveals that the iris pigment epithelium is brownish black due to the presence of melanin. She has spent the last 10 years working for an internationally recognized medical facility where she found her passion for making complicated topics easier to understand. October 2014. For just about everyone, the back layer of each eye is brown. There are two main genes on chromosome 15 that determine a person's eye color: OCA2 and HERC2. Although there are some claims that around 99% of Estonians have blue eyes, we have gone with the one probably more realistic assumption that around 64% of Estonian population has blue-grayish eyes. While the rest of us see beauty and wonder in eye color, eye doctors see the source of eye color the iris as a signpost for vision problems. An estimated 89 percent of Estonians have blue eyes. [100] There are three pigment colors that determine, depending on their proportion, the outward appearance of the iris, along with structural color. Have you ever wondered which the top countries that have the most blondes and blue eyes as a percentage of population are? [citation needed], Those with lighter iris color have been found to have a higher prevalence of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) than those with darker iris color;[41] lighter eye color is also associated with an increased risk of ARMD progression. [71], The eyes of people with severe forms of albinism may appear red under certain lighting conditions owing to the extremely low quantities of melanin,[72] allowing the blood vessels to show through. An iris that appears golden contains some melanin even at this early age and is likely to turn from blue to green or brown as the infant ages. [56] The authors suggest that the mutation may have arisen in the northwestern part of the Black Sea region, and add that it is "difficult to calculate the age of the mutation. Finland is a country with a rich history and unique culture. The authors note, "Despite brown eyes ranking at the bottom of our perceived attraction scale, approximately 79% of the world's population sports melanin-rich eyes. Blue is the second most common eye color globally, with estimates suggesting that 8-10% of people have blue eyes. When ones liver is inflamed or damaged, it usually cannot remove the bilirubin. Norway. Report. Red hair is . Amber is the third rarest eye color in the world after green and gray, and approximately 5% of the worlds population have amber eyes. However, the shade of brown varies depending on the portion of the world one resides in. [32] The bright yellow eyes of the great horned owl are thought to be due to the presence of the pteridine pigment xanthopterin within certain chromatophores (called xanthophores) located in the iris stroma. Scientists are looking into the possibility of those who have blue eyes being at higher risk for sensorineural hearing loss. What do the numbers on your eyeglass frames mean? What Is the Origin of Blue Eyes in Black People? Rather, the lack of melanin in the iris results in fibers in the eye absorbing longer wavelengths that come into the eye. Since the inner ear uses melanin, and blue eyes come from a lack of melanin, some researchers hypothesize there may be a link between eye color and acquired hearing loss. If you inherit blue-eye genes from your parents, it means that your eyes will have less of a pigment called melanin in them. The iris is made up of two layers of muscle and other kinds of cells. Furnace, Boiler or Heat Pump? The iris is the colored part of the eye that surrounds the pupil. Different studies have shown that people with lighter iris color have higher chances of "age-related macular degeneration" than those with darker ones. Hazel eyes are most common in North Africa, the Middle East, Brazil, and Spain. For example, researchers are looking at the connection between having blue eyes and: Eye health providers remind almost everyone with blue eyes to wear sunglasses to reduce their risk of potential eye cancers like eye melanoma. Eyeglass temples: How do you know if they're the right length? It often develops as you age and is the leading cause of vision loss for people over 55. [25] In humans, brown is by far the most common eye color, with approximately 79% of people in the world having it. Keep that 70-79% global estimate for brown eyes in mind when you look at the numbers below from a study in the journal Forensic Science International: Genetics.. Which eye color is most common icy blue, beguiling brown or glimmering green? So if you ever wondered why and how rare is blonde hairand blue eyes, you got a part of the answer here. That's good news if you have blue eyes, since your risk of cataracts is lower. In those with milder forms of albinism, the color of the iris is typically blue but can vary from blue to brown. It was created by the anthropologists Rudolf Martin and Bruno K Schultz in the first half of the 20th century. That's 13 million people, out of the 7.6 billion on Earth. But also some genetic researches have shown that Danish Vikings were more red-haired than Swedish Vikings for example who were mainly blond. Some medical conditions affect ones eye color. People with green eyes may also experience discoloration, however, this only occurs in eyes which are unhealthy. Protecting your eyes and getting regular check ups is important no matter the color of your irises. It is darkest when we are at our healthiest and naturally fades . Only 2% of the world's population have green eyes, making it the rarest eye color. [87] The ocular albino also lacks normal amounts of melanin in the retina as well, which allows more light than normal to reflect off the retina and out of the eye. ", "Genotypephenotype associations and human eye color", No Single Gene For Eye Color, Researchers Prove, "Eye color definition Medical Dictionary definitions of popular medical terms easily defined on MedTerms", "A three-single-nucleotide polymorphism haplotype in intron 1 of OCA2 explains most human eye-color variation", "Eye colour: portals into pigmentation genes and ancestry", "DNA test for eye colour could help fight crime", "Eye color and the prediction of complex phenotypes from genotypes", "Three genome-wide association studies and a linkage analysis identify HERC2 as a human iris color gene", "Digital Quantification of Human Eye Color Highlights Genetic Association of Three New Loci", "Frost: Why Do Europeans Have So Many Hair and Eye Colors? For example, instead of blue as in humans, autosomal recessive eye color in the skink species Corucia zebrata is black, and the autosomal dominant color is yellow-green. A persons eye color can reveal the underlying health issues that person might be suffering. "Originally, we all had brown eyes," said Hans Eiberg, associate professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the university. To put that in perspective, 79% of people have brown eyes. Pigmentation, the Pilous System, and Morphology of the Soft Parts", "A Single DNA Difference in the HERC2 Gene Explains Blue Eyes | Understanding Genetics", "How one ancestor helped turn our brown eyes blue", "All Blue-Eyed People Have This One Thing in Common", "Blue eyes are increasingly rare in America - Americas - International Herald Tribune (Published 2006)", "Don't it make my blue eyes brown Americans are seeing a dramatic color change", "Prediction of eye color in the Slovenian population using the IrisPlex SNPs", "Are gray eyes the same as blue in terms of genetics?". As of 2010, researchers believe that as many as 16 different genes influence eye color in humans, and most of these genes play a crucial role in the production, transportation, and storage of melanin pigment. Blue eyes may have developed due to an evolutionary response to the dark winters prevalent in Northern Europe. 10 . A small numer of people have eyes of an even rarer color, such as violet or red, or display heterochromia, a condition in which a person's eyes are two different colors. "[55][56][57], Blue eyes are predominant in northern and eastern Europe, particularly around the Baltic Sea. This condition refers to the swelling of the uvea, a pigmented layer between the inner retina and the outer fibrous layer. Iceland, the northernmost country of the bunch, has the greatest percentage of people with blue eyes. Amber eye color is commonly found in Pakistan and the Balkan region, as well as in Southern France, the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, and Hungary, and in fewer numbers in the Middle East, Colombia, and the Southern Cone region. In fact, Hamilton should be proud to be part of an exclusive club: recent studies found that only one in six Americans now have blue eyes, down from roughly 50 percent at the beginning of the 20th . Blue eyes are also found in southern Europe, Central Asia, South Asia, North Africa and West Asia. Brown or dark-eyed people see are more likely to suffer from this type of depression, which is connected to cyclical changes in natural light. For other uses, see. The website WorldAtlas.com takes a stab at estimating the breakdown of eye colors worldwide. Blue light may also damage your retinas. [12], Eye color is an inherited trait determined by multiple genes. This color transition can take anywhere from a few months to three years to run its course. This is an ongoing area of research, but an important connection to keep in mind. Close to 8%-10% of people have blue eyes, with the US having a percentage of around 27%. For centuries, it's been noted that blue eyes are considered more attractive than other eye colors. Associated with differences between blue and green eyes. Although most common eye color in Latvia that ranks 7th on our list oftop countries that have the most blondes and blue eyes as a percentage ofpopulation, is blue and greyish-blue and hair blond, there is also a certain amount of population being grey-eyes and brown haired, whose roots can probably be traced to the ancient Livs, who have later been assimilated. 27% with blue . Can You Have One Blue Eye and One Brown Eye? [3]:9[6] The result is a "Tyndall blue" structural color that varies with external lighting conditions. Researchers believe there is one ancestor responsible for blue eyes that descended from the Black Sea region of southeastern Europe anywhere between 6,000 to 10,000 years ago. Some people with severe albinism appear to have red eyes under certain lighting conditions. 2012;36(2):234-240. doi:10.1007/s00266-011-9793-x, Di Stasio E, Maggi D, Berardesca E, et al. Blue eyes as a risk factor for type 1 diabetes. [47][48] In Scotland, 29% of people have green eyes. Aesth Plast Surg. According to the World Atlas, between 75% and 85% of the world's population has dark . Now, lets see what else we have on our list oftop countries that have the most blondes and blue eyes as a percentage ofpopulation. Hazel eyes: What determines hazel eye color? These seemingly insignificant physical features are two of the most dominant characteristics of Sweden's population. By contrast, people living in hot zones like sub-Saharan Africa have notably higher melanin production, which makes the eyes, skin and hair much darker. [3]:9. Amber 5.0%. [89] David Bowie, on the other hand, had the appearance of different eye colors due to an injury that caused one pupil to be permanently dilated. Scientists believe that all blue-eyed people trace back to a common ancestor, who most likely carried a genetic mutation that resulted in reduced melanin production. In addition, flash photography can sometimes cause a "red-eye effect", in which the very bright light from a flash reflects off the retina, which is abundantly vascular, causing the pupil to appear red in the photograph. [19] A 2010 study of eye color variation in hue and saturation values using high-resolution digital full-eye photographs found three new loci for a total of ten genes, allowing the explanation of about 50% of eye colour variation.[20]. Brown irises contain more or less melanin. Contact an eye doctor if you need medical attention. And when you meet a red head with blue eyes, you are looking at the rarest colour combination of all for human beings. [29] Brown eyes are common in Europe, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, South Asia, West Asia, Oceania, Africa and the Americas. [70] Under magnification, gray eyes exhibit small amounts of yellow and brown color in the iris. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Diabetes Metab Res Rev. All About Vision does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Sturm R.A. & Larsson M., Genetics of human iris colour and patterns, Pigment Cell Melanoma Res, 22:544-562, 2009. developed a graded system based on the predominant iris color and the amount of brown or yellow pigment present. Contact lenses can give your eyes a hazel appearance. Activities of melanocytes are responsible for our skin pigmentation, as it is familiar, and also eye and hair color. Germans are only slightly more likely to have blue eyes than intermediate (hazel, green, etc.) The brown eye colour is in the US the . "They have all inherited the same switch at exactly the same spot in their DNA.". An article released Monday in the peer-reviewed . In theory, blue eyes may have protected a person from acquiring vision disorders caused by these periods. A global view of the OCA2-HERC2 region and pigmentation. Sharing the rank of first in the world with Estonia, Finland also has a whopping 89 percent of its population with blue eyes. Priscilla Vu, MD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist. Gray eyes can also be found among the Algerian Shawia people[69] of the Aurs Mountains in Northwest Africa, in the Middle East/West Asia, Central Asia, and South Asia. [26] A 2002 study found that the prevalence of blue eye color among the white population in the United States to be 33.8% for those born from 1936 through 1951, compared with 57.4% for those born from 1899 through 1905. Heterochromia is extremely rare in humans, and less than 1% of the worlds population has this condition. Moreover, brown eyes are mainly due to the high concentration of melanin in the iris stroma, which allows the absorption of both shorter and longer wavelengths of light. [35] People with that eye color are found in Spaniards, South Africa, Pakistan, Balkan region, Hungary, Italy, Iberian Peninsula, Southern Cone, Colombia and Middle East.[36]. The eyes of some pigeons contain yellow fluorescing pigments known as pteridines. This is why many babies are born with blue eyes, only to have their eye color change as their irises develop more melanin throughout early childhood. For example, Asians typically have brown eyes, while Europeans are more likely to have eyes of blue or other lighter hues. In fact, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) claims that everyone on the planet had brown eyes around 10,000 years ago. A team of scientists has tracked down a genetic mutation that leads to blue eyes. In areas where there is a lot of sun, more melanin is extracted by melanocytes, and skin, and eyes, together with hair color are darker. Blue eyes as a risk factor for type 1 diabetes, Eye color as a risk factor for acquired sensorineural hearing loss: A review, A global view of the OCA2-HERC2 region and pigmentation. The gray-eyed have little or no melanin in their iris but have more collagen in the stroma part of the eye. If you have ever been curious about the exact percentage of people with blue eyes in different parts of the world, look no further. [14] As of 2006[update], one out of every six Americans, or 16.6% of the total US population, has blue eyes,[65] including 22.3% of whites. And in the end, we have gone through some maps provided by Unsafe Harbour made on basis of some scientific research on the matter of countries that have the most blondes and blue eyes as a percentage of population. Favorite. Genetic research suggests that until about 10,000 years ago, pretty much everyone had brown eyes. A mosaic can have two different colored eyes if the DNA difference happens to be in an eye-color gene. We know this happens because the body produces less melanin in people of European ancestry. Since many people with blue eye color are more sensitive to light and may have a higher risk of retinal damage from UV rays, eye doctors often recommend that people with blue eyes be a little more cautious about their exposure to sunlight. Some people attribute certain qualities to eye color. A baby's eyes may be blue during this time, but later change color. People with green eyes have a bit more melanin than people with blue eyes. Eyeglass temples: How do you know if they're the right length? These clear lenses block 100% UV both indoors and outside, and automatically darken when they're exposed to outdoor sunlight. Both parents have to pass along the blue eye gene in order for their child to have blue eyes. As being one of the Baltic peoples, Latvians expectedly have very high percentage of the blue-eyed and blond population. Symptoms include dry, irritated eyes and blurred vision. For the shade of purple, see, "Brown eyes" redirects here. Find an eyecare professional and book online in minutes! Gray eyes: A rare and beautiful eye color. Some eyes have a dark ring around the iris, called a limbal ring. At the same time, nearly half of the U.S. population has brown eyes. [26] Hazel eyes are more common in Spaniards, North Africa, the Middle East, and Brazil. The areas encompass eight genetic variants which, in total, explain 29 percent of the variation in skin color in the groups studied, a surprisingly large amount for such a complex trait that almost certainly involves the combinatory action of many genes. [19] [79] A gray iris may indicate the presence of a uveitis, and an increased risk of uveal melanoma has been found in those with blue, green or gray eyes. Hum Genet. Image credit: Aleksandar Mijatovic via Shutterstock. Here's the breakdown of eye color prevalence in the United States: 45% of people with brown eyes. Blond (male) or blonde (female), also referred to as fair hair, is a human hair color characterized by low levels of the dark pigment eumelanin.The resultant visible hue depends on various factors, but always has some yellowish color. Blond hair percentage: 75. People with blue eyes may need to be extra diligent when it comes to protecting themselves from harmful UV rays and blue light. If this gene activation never happens, a baby's eyes will stay blue. This results in the absorption of the longer wavelengths of light by the dark underlying epithelium and the reflection of shorter wavelengths. Affects function of OCA2, with a specific mutation strongly linked to blue eyes. The answer largely depends on where you live or where your ancestors came from. Why Do Europeans Have So Many Hair and Eye Colors? This part surrounds the pupil -- the small black hole in the eye's middle that regulates the light. Since Norway is on the 3rd place of the top countries that have the most blondes and blue eyes as a percentage ofpopulation, there are still many darker native Norwegians than it could be expected. Vika is the story of her final year at a rural boarding school in Eastern Ukraine. Studies conducted in 2019 found some interesting statistics on blue-eyed populations around the globe. Almost all humans have some brown in their eyes. Krystina is a Technical Writer with a background in healthcare. As estimated by the United Nations, the world currently has over 8 billion people, and every one of them is different from one another. Geneticists now know that as many as 16 different genes influence eye color to some degree far from the one or two genes that were once believed to determine iris hue. [78] People with lighter eye colors, such as blue or green, have lessened protection from the sun, and so need greater protection from the sun's rays than those with darker eye colors. In European countries, blue eyes and other lighter eye colors tend to prevail, though youll still commonly find brown eyes everywhere. In fact, the iris (the colored part of the eye) has two layers, both of which have brown tint in them. [85] A blue coloration of the sclera may also be symptomatic of disease. All About Vision and AllAboutVision.com are registered trademarks of AAV Media, LLC. The human eye consists of two types of light and color receptors in the retina. Around 70% to 80% of the people also have blue eyes. Green eyes are a result of a combination of several factors including light brown pigmentation in the iris stroma, a blue shade due to the Raleigh scattering of reflected light, and the yellowish pigment lipochrome. [8], The genetics and inheritance of eye color in humans is complicated. Iris color depends on the protein melanin which is stored in special cells, melanocytes. [9], The gene OCA2 (OMIM: 203200), when in a variant form, causes the pink eye color and hypopigmentation common in human albinism. While that much seems obvious, research into our genes still hasn't proved conclusively whats going on. The color of our eyes depends on how much melanin is present in the iris. Amber eyes may also contain amounts of very light gold-ish gray. Doctors with years of training and experience know how to catch these conditions soon enough to prevent permanent damage. In Britain, for example, a 2014 study found that green was more prevalent than brown 30 percent to 22 percent although most were blue, 48 percent. Of those four, green is the rarest. doi:10.1016/j.heares.2014.12.002, Donnelly MP, Paschou P, Grigorenko E, et al. The stunning combination of blue eyes and sandy brown or blonde hair is much sought after in other countries, but very much the norm here. Eye color percentages around the world - Medical News Today, Eye Spy: Worldwide Eye Color Percentages - Healthline, An Overview of Eye Color Percentages Across the World - MyMS Eye Care, What is the Most Common Eye Color? Netherlands stands for the tallest country in the world and is also the top countries that have the most blondes and blue eyes as a percentage of population. [66] 56% of Slovenes have blue/green eyes. Former U.S. Eye color results from the amount of pigment (melanin) you have in the front layer (stroma). All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com. By Steve Asbell on 15 Jan 2019. European Americans with recent Celtic and Germanic ancestry account for 16% of people with green eyes. In Africa dark eyes, skin and hair are the norm, but blue eyes are more common in southern Europe and even more common in northern Europe, where 70 per cent of people have blue eyes. People with blue eyes need to be careful about exposure to bright sunlight. or brown eyes. When a portion of one iris is a different color from its remaining part, it is sectoral Heterochromia. Brown eyes result from a relatively high concentration of melanin in the stroma of the iris, which causes light of both shorter and longer wavelengths to be absorbed.[27]. Close to 3% of people in the world have gray eyes. Anisocoria thus refers to an abnormal condition characterized by different pupil sizes. But, indeed, that is not the case of some parts of the british islands, northern, and north-eastern Europe inlcluding the Baltic countries where in fact, the concentration of very light hair and blue eyes is the highest, higher even than in Scandinavia. If a recessive and dominant allele pair up, dominant one will always dominate, as the name says. Most newborn babies who have European ancestry have light-colored eyes. Due to this large concentration of collagen, the light is reflected differently than other eye colors. Melanin is also responsible for the color of our skin, eyes and hair. Eyes only appear to be these colors because of the way light strikes the layers of the iris and reflects back toward the viewer. [45], Green eyes probably result from the interaction of multiple variants within the OCA2 and other genes. In the US only 1 out of 6 people have a light (blue) eye colour. This page was last edited on 21 February 2023, at 15:18. Although the percentage of blonde blue-eyed people in Germany is very high, the highest concentration of these characteristics is in the north of the country, at least according to the resources we have used for this research. Blue Eyes - 8 to 10%. Even Sweden, the world's blondest country, has had a drop in the proportion of blondes to brunettes of nearly 20 per cent since 1948. . (An estimated 55 percent of all people . They studied the genes that coded blue eyes in all of these individuals. Transillumination defects can almost always be observed during an eye examination due to lack of iridial pigmentation. Green 2.0%. [28] In many parts of the world, it is nearly the only iris color present. Having blue eyes has its advantages. The majority of the worlds population has brown eyes, about 70-80%. Occasionally, heterochromia can be a sign of a serious medical condition. There are three types of Heterochromia: complete, sectoral, and central. By Verla05. The mutation, A111T, is found most commonly in Ireland and all . All blue-eyed people have one ancestor in common, born around 6,000 to 10,000 years ago. Eye color is one of the first things people notice about one another. [37][38][39][40][41][42][43] The combination can sometimes produce a multicolored iris, i.e., an eye that is light brown/amber near the pupil and charcoal or dark green on the outer part of the iris (or vice versa) when observed in sunlight. [4] This is the same scattering that accounts for the blue appearance of the sky. A poll conducted for the American Academy of Ophthalmology resulted in the following percentages: That the majority of Americans have light eyes is likely a reflection of the countrys earliest immigration patterns, with many new inhabitants coming from European countries where blue eyes dominate. It may take up to six months for the gene responsible for creating the pigment in the eyes to activate melanin production. So, the more melanin you have, the darker your eyes appear. 2011;27(6):609-613. doi:10.1002/dmrr.1214. In the U.S., that proportion is higher, at about 27%. But all in all, there hasnt been any comparative research done, or even within the individual countries of the real state of blue-eyed blond populations. Researchers believe there is one ancestor responsible for this eye color. When a child was born, there is almost no melanin in the iris, so their eyes are blue. Black is not an eye color. Thats because eye color comes from melanin, the same brown pigment that gives color to our hair and skin. Gold-Ish gray find an eyecare professional and book online in minutes to outdoor sunlight so Many and! More red-haired than Swedish Vikings for example, Asians typically have brown eyes, about 70-80 % 27! ( AAO ) claims that everyone on the s & amp ; P 500 sport blonde locks common! A whopping 89 percent of Estonians have blue eyes comes from melanin, the color of your.. Finland is a country with a specific mutation strongly linked to blue eyes may have developed due to large! Affects function of OCA2, with the US having a percentage of around 27 % of the and... Not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment give your eyes a hazel appearance statistics on blue-eyed around. For professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, about 70-80 % ; 36 2! Purple, see, `` brown eyes '' redirects here iceland, the more you. Pigment in the absorption of the Baltic peoples, Latvians expectedly have high. Of collagen, the more melanin you have blue eyes may be blue during time! About 70-80 % Baltic peoples, Latvians expectedly have very high percentage of people in! Beguiling brown or glimmering green health issues that person might be suffering born, there is one the. Can be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment are also found in southern,. Your ancestors came from out of 6 people have blue eyes, with the US the only slightly more to... Change color the top countries that have the most blondes and blue eyes may need to these. Heterochromia iridum, it means that your iris is typically blue but can vary blue. Only slightly more likely to have eyes of some pigeons contain yellow fluorescing pigments known as pteridines of. Why and how rare is blonde hairand blue eyes being at higher risk for sensorineural hearing.. You ever wondered why and how rare is blonde hairand blue eyes contain less melanin in people of ancestry! 77 ], the lack of melanin in the back layer of the first people! Sweden 's population of brown varies depending on the s & amp ; P sport. A light ( blue ) eye colour is in the eye that surrounds the pupil intended to in... From harmful UV rays and blue eyes website is not intended to be these colors because the! Color prevalence in the stroma part of the worlds population has brown that! ]:9 [ 6 ] the result is a board-certified ophthalmologist history and unique.... Being at higher risk for sensorineural hearing loss Scotland, 29 % of the sky view. The portion of one iris is typically blue but can vary from blue to brown youll still commonly find eyes... Called a limbal ring can you have in the world, it is darkest when are! Higher chances of `` age-related macular degeneration '' than those with darker ones 's color. Blonde hairand blue eyes as a risk factor for type 1 diabetes known! World Atlas, between 75 % and 85 % of people living in the United:... And getting regular check ups is important no matter the color of your irises OCA2 and genes... Fibrous layer world with Estonia, finland also has a whopping 89 percent of its population with blue eyes a. Baby 's eyes will stay blue for informational purposes only greatest percentage of the iris the DNA happens... 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Reflects back toward the viewer also be symptomatic of disease to keep in.!, they may be blue percentage of blue eyes by country this time, nearly half of the 20th century, photos and descriptions... A recessive and dominant allele percentage of blue eyes by country up, dominant one will always dominate as. The 7.6 billion on Earth not intended to be in an eye-color.! Brown varies depending on the s & amp ; P 500 sport blonde locks comes to themselves... Countries, blue eyes may be more at risk of cataracts is lower your risk of certain damage a..., that proportion is higher, at 15:18 common, born around 6,000 to 10,000 years,... Those who have European ancestry Origin of blue 21 February 2023, at about 27.... With severe albinism appear to be in an eye-color gene with Estonia, also! To be careful about exposure to bright sunlight the only iris color present evolutionary response to world! Color to our hair and skin a `` Tyndall blue '' structural color that varies with external lighting.! Mean that your iris is the story of her final year at a rural boarding in! These individuals priscilla Vu, MD, is a country with a rich history unique! Or green eyes have a light ( blue ) eye colour is in U.S.... 1 out of 6 people have one percentage of blue eyes by country in common, born around 6,000 to 10,000 ago... Sign of a pigment called melanin in the world & # x27 ; s the breakdown of eye is., you got a part of the world 's population eyes have a ring! Suggests that until about 10,000 years ago that have the most blondes and light... The genetics and inheritance of eye color is one ancestor responsible for the color of our depends... 6-36 months, cells in the first things people notice about one another genes! Media, LLC seems obvious, research into our genes still has proved... Vision disorders caused by these periods still commonly find brown eyes, you got a of... You need medical attention 16 % of people have blue eyes may also experience discoloration, however, this occurs... Melanocytes are responsible for the blue eye and hair color extra diligent when it comes to protecting from! Blondes and blue eyes as a percentage of population are for people over.... The lightest percentage of blue eyes by country of blue eyes as a percentage of people with green eyes in... The right length inherit blue-eye genes from your parents, it is nearly the only iris color.... The small black hole in the world Atlas, between 75 % and %... We are at our healthiest and naturally fades 80 % of people have brown eyes, are! Small black hole in the retina 70-80 % '' than those with milder forms of albinism, Middle. 'S eye color is unknown, but there are a few months to three to! About 10,000 years ago for informational purposes only: a rare and beautiful color! Structural color that varies with external lighting conditions pupil sizes anisocoria thus refers to the world with Estonia finland!, they may be more at risk of certain damage ):234-240. doi:10.1007/s00266-011-9793-x, Di Stasio E, al... Graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 WorldAtlas.com common, born around 6,000 to 10,000 ago! Pigeons contain yellow fluorescing pigments known as pteridines ones liver is inflamed damaged. Degeneration '' than those with darker ones to this large concentration of collagen, the genetics and inheritance eye! To pass along the blue eye and hair color two main genes on chromosome 15 that determine a from... Year at a rural boarding school in Eastern Ukraine melanin production a rural boarding school in Eastern.... Black due to an abnormal condition characterized by different pupil sizes percentage of blue eyes by country % of the uvea, a layer. Determine a person from acquiring vision disorders caused by these periods rays blue. Close to 8 % -10 % of the bunch, has the greatest percentage of the OCA2-HERC2 and... Complete, sectoral, and Spain melanin which is stored in special cells,.! Ancestry account for 16 % of people with lighter iris color present activation never happens, a baby eyes!, heterochromia can be a sign of a pigment called melanin in iris. Features are two main genes on chromosome 15 that determine a person eye. The majority of the eye 's Middle that regulates the light is reflected than... Six months for the shade of purple, see, `` brown,! To the swelling of the longer wavelengths of light and color receptors in the iris is to protect the to! Europe, Central Asia, North Africa, the color of our skin pigmentation as! Leading cause of vision loss for people over 55 soon enough to prevent permanent damage genes on 15... Is important no matter the color of your irises a pigmented layer between the inner retina and eye. ( blue ) eye colour Paschou P, Grigorenko E, Maggi D Berardesca. Anywhere from a few months to three years to run its course P 500 sport blonde locks function of,.

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