percentage of blue eyes by country
They lower your risk of developing cataracts, for instance. At the same time, nearly half of the U.S. population has brown eyes. In addition to red eyes, some people with albinism can also have actual "violet-colored" eyes. First, one can have blue eyes as a result of a genetic mutation. Symptoms include dry, irritated eyes and blurred vision. One possible explanation for the difference in the appearance of gray and blue eyes is that gray eyes have larger deposits of collagen in the stroma, so that the light that is reflected from the epithelium undergoes Mie scattering (which is not strongly frequency-dependent) rather than Rayleigh scattering (in which shorter wavelengths of light are scattered more). University of Copenhagen. "Blue eyes are seen as powerful. Simply put, in order for someone to have blue eyes and blond hair, both of the alleles combined must be recessive in order to show up. Blue eyes are the second most common eye color in the world. In those with milder forms of albinism, the color of the iris is typically blue but can vary from blue to brown. [13][14] These genes are sought by studying small changes in the genes themselves and in neighboring genes, called single-nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs. According to medical science, people with light-colored eyes such as blue, green or grey have a higher risk of eye cancer. Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer -- 48 percent of female CEOs on the S&P 500 sport blonde locks. If you have ever been lucky enough to catch a glimpse of someone with stunning blue eyes, then congratulations, you are seeing one of nature's rarest wonders! Iceland is a beautiful country in the northern region of Europe, known for its many glaciers and stunning landscapes. Redheads have fewer strands of hair on their heads. 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.. (This same effect makes the sky appear blue.). Share with Friends Add To Playlist. The iris is the colored part of the eye. A persons eye color can reveal the underlying health issues that person might be suffering. Blue eyes and blond hair (as well as all others for that matter) are the results of genetic variations. One more interesting fact is that most lighter-skinned babies are born with light eyes, being blue or greyish, which usually starts to change after 6 months and finally fully changes after around 1st year of age. A person may also have more than one eye color, a condition called Heretochromia, which affects less than 1% of people. Heterochromia (heterochromia iridum or heterochromia iridis) is an eye condition in which one iris is a different color from the other (complete heterochromia), or where a part of one iris is a different color from the remainder (partial heterochromia or sectoral heterochromia). Denmark, the Polish coast and the Baltic states), making it in effect an almost entirely blonde-bounded lake. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com. 27% with blue . Researchers found that only 17 to 22 percent of white cats with non-blue eyes are born deaf. Eye color as a risk factor for acquired sensorineural hearing loss: A review. Custers' research suggests that Black people with blue eyes are affected by the same OCA2 genetic mutation in the same way any other human is, despite the mutation . Blue is the second most common eye color globally, with estimates suggesting that 8-10% of people have blue eyes. [53] Unlike brown eyes, blue eyes have low concentrations of melanin in the stroma of the iris, which lies in front of the dark epithelium. There are two main genes on chromosome 15 that determine a person's eye color: OCA2 and HERC2. Thats true for people of every eye color. While that much seems obvious, research into our genes still hasn't proved conclusively whats going on. In the US only 1 out of 6 people have a light (blue) eye colour. Hazel eyes are due to a combination of Rayleigh scattering and a moderate amount of melanin in the iris' anterior border layer. If you inherit blue-eye genes from your parents, it means that your eyes will have less of a pigment called melanin in them. How older drivers can improve their driving at night, trace their eye color back to that one person, population of people with lighter eyes, hair and skin, Eye exams: 5 reasons why they are important, 5 Things you might not know about blue eyes. While it is largely believed that human pigmentation has faced adaptive selection and been shaped by the environment and climate, the genetic causes and selective pressures responsible have been difficult to detect and resolve, a study in the journal Genome Biology commented. France, the southernmost nation on the list, has the largest number of people with intermediate (neither brown nor blue) eye color. Brown melanin is the only pigment that exists in the eye; there is . Find an eyecare professional and book online in minutes! Hereditary deafness is a major concern in white cats, and even more so if one or both irises are blue in color. If you have blue eyes it does not mean that your iris is actually colored blue. "From this we can conclude that all blue-eyed individuals are linked to the same ancestor," said Eiberg. Viking stereotypes for being tall, strong, blond and blue-eyed are confirmed at least for the last two matters in the case of Denmark. Click to read the article and view the infographic. 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. The colored part of the eye is called the iris. 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. Globally, brown is the most common eye color. In other words, it's impossible to know for sure if your children will have blue eyes or any other color. Icelandic people demonstrate a strong national pride in preserving their culture. Blue eyes are mainly due to the low concentrations of melanin in the iris stroma. 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. They look blue because of how light is reflected. 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. That's called phototoxicity. International Journal of Ophthalmology. Two percent of humans worldwide have blond hair; and 5 percent of whites in the U.S., according to the researchers. Eye color may not remain constant throughout your life. The more melanin concentration one has, the darker ones eyes will be. This anomaly, which film producers thought would be disturbing to film audiences, was "corrected" by having Van Cleef wear brown contact lenses. Doctors with years of training and experience know how to catch these conditions soon enough to prevent permanent damage. It may take up to six months for the gene responsible for creating the pigment in the eyes to activate melanin production. The total number of genes that contribute to eye color is unknown, but there are a few likely candidates. Taro Aso, Japan's foreign minister, risked upsetting his country's strongest ally by suggesting US diplomats in the Middle East would never solve the region's problems because they have 'blue eyes . In fact, more than half of all Americans age 80 or older either have cataracts or have had surgery to get rid of cataracts. Contact an eye doctor if you need medical attention. [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. People with blue eyes need to be careful about exposure to bright sunlight. 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. Aesth Plast Surg. Light or medium-pigmented brown eyes can also be commonly found in South Europe, among the Americas, and parts of Central Asia, West Asia and South Asia. [37][39][42][44], Around 18% of the US population and 5% of the world population have hazel eyes. This is an ongoing area of research, but an important connection to keep in mind. This form of hearing loss comes from damage to the inner ear or to the nerve going from the ear to the brain. The Greek goddess Athene appears with gray eyes (). In 2016, scientists found that our pale skin complexion is inherited from just one man who lived thousands of years ago. [25] In humans, brown is by far the most common eye color, with approximately 79% of people in the world having it. [77], The most important role of melanin in the iris is to protect the eyes from the sun's harmful rays. That's 13 million people, out of the 7.6 billion on Earth. [68] Alternatively, it has been suggested that gray and blue eyes might differ in the concentration of melanin at the front of the stroma.[68]. 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. American Academy of Ophthalmology. The blue-eyes stereotype: do eye color, pupil diameter, and scleral color affect attractiveness? Both parents may have icy blue eyes, but that's no guarantee their child's eyes will even be blue at all. It's completely normal to see blue become brown, hazel, or even green as they get a little older. For example, Asians typically have brown eyes, while Europeans are more likely to have eyes of blue or other lighter hues. Provincia: bulletin trimestriel de la Socit de Statistique http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0133%3Abook%3D1%3Acard%3D206, "Melanins: Skin Pigments and Much MoreTypes, Structural Models, Biological Functions, and Formation Routes", "The Claim: Eye Color Can Have an Effect on Vision", Quantification and Correction of Iris Color. For the shade of purple, see, "Brown eyes" redirects here. [46], Green eyes are most common in Northern, Western and Central Europe. [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. Top 10 Countries that Have the Most Blondes and Blue Eyes as a Percentage of Population, countries with the most beautiful women in Europe, countries with the most beautiful women in the world, 11 Countries with the Most Beautiful Women in Europe, 20 Countries With The Most Beautiful Women In The World, top 10 countries that have the most blondes and blue eyes as a percentage of population, How to Best Use Insider Monkey to Increase Your Returns, 6 Things You Didn't Know About Hedge Funds. Europe was the epicenter of the blue-eye gene mutation. Although these conditions cannot permanently change the color of the iris, they generally affect the eyes sclera or cornea. Britain has traditionally been home to people with brown eyes but a study by SCOTLANDSDNA found that eyes in the country are now 48 per cent blue. Iceland, the northernmost country of the bunch, has the greatest percentage of people with blue eyes. (An estimated 55 percent of all people . Germans are only slightly more likely to have blue eyes than intermediate (hazel, green, etc.) Scientists assume that this genetic mutation might have happened somewhat between 5,000 and 3,000 ago, under the assumption that it was an evolutionary adaptation connected to competition for mates. Mujica-Mota MA, Schermbrucker J, Daniel SJ. 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. Brown eyes in an otherwise mostly light-eyed region may point to a genetic leftover and a time in history during which everyone in the world had brown eyes. Green irises, for example, have some yellow and the blue structural color. The amount of damage depends on wavelength and exposure time . Blue is the second most common and brown tops the list with 45% of the U.S. population and possibly almost 80% worldwide. Blue eyes have almost no tint in the front layer of the iris. Follow. Having blue eyes has its advantages. All About Vision and AllAboutVision.com are registered trademarks of AAV Media, LLC. Now, lets get back to our main questions, which country has the most blue eyes and which country has the most blondes. Blue is the second most common color, followed by hazel (a blend of green and brown), amber, gray, and green. Nothing to do with their mythical fiery temperament! [17], There is evidence that as many as 16 different genes could be responsible for eye color in humans; however, the main two genes associated with eye color variation are OCA2 and HERC2, and both are localized in Chromosome 15. 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. 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. Protecting your eyes and getting regular check ups is important no matter the color of your irises. 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. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com. doi:10.1016/j.heares.2014.12.002, Donnelly MP, Paschou P, Grigorenko E, et al. It shows up in about 9% of Americans but only 2% of the world's population. Eye color in non-human animals is regulated differently. [24], Almost all mammals have brown or darkly-pigmented irises. The majority of the worlds population has brown eyes, about 70-80%. Have you ever wondered which the top countries that have the most blondes and blue eyes as a percentage of population are? View Reports-/5-RATE We know this happens because the body produces less melanin in people of European ancestry. Finland is the first among the top countries that have the most blondes and blue eyes as a percentage of population. In theory, blue eyes may have protected a person from acquiring vision disorders caused by these periods. Just 22 per cent now have brown eyes, while 30 . [91], Iris color can provide a large amount of information about a person, and a classification of colors may be useful in documenting pathological changes or determining how a person may respond to ocular pharmaceuticals. Even though there is a high number of blond and blue-eyed people living in Britain today, the highest percentage of blue eyes is recorded in South East Scotland with 57%. Furnace, Boiler or Heat Pump? [12] A specific mutation within the HERC2 gene, a gene that regulates OCA2 expression, is partly responsible for blue eyes. For centuries, it's been noted that blue eyes are considered more attractive than other eye colors. A baby's eyes may be blue during this time, but later change color. Your genes determine whether you have blue eyes. In the U.S., that proportion is higher, at about 27%. In most people, the back layer has at least some brown pigment in it, even if their eyes don't look brown. For instance, people with brown eyes are considered by many to be more trustworthy than blue-eyed people (though the combination of brown eyes and facial shape is crucial). Blue eyes are mainly due to the low concentrations of melanin in the iris stroma. Different SNPs within OCA2 are strongly associated with blue and green eyes as well as variations in freckling, mole counts, hair and skin tone. More people living in Asian, South American, Spanish, and South Africa are more likely to be amber-eyed. [5] Neither blue nor green pigments are present in the human iris or vitreous humour. Approximately 2% of the world's population has green eyes, making it the rarest eye color. Blue eye color is determined by melanin, and melanin is actually brown by nature. That little DNA blip was blue eye color, according to researchers at the University of Copenhagen. [22] Observing the iris of an infant from the side using only transmitted light with no reflection from the back of the iris, it is possible to detect the presence or absence of low levels of melanin. Effect an almost entirely blonde-bounded lake 2 % of Americans but only 2 % of people have blue eyes mainly... Careful about exposure to bright sunlight include dry, irritated eyes and blurred vision greatest percentage of are. Purple, see, `` brown eyes '' redirects here the top countries that have most... 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percentage of blue eyes by country