Boys are 3 percent to 5 percent likelier to have blue eyes than girls, but beyond that it's a non-issue -- physiologically speaking. A study in Rotterdam (2009) found that it was possible to predict eye color with more than 90% accuracy for brown and blue using just six SNPs. In the U.S., that proportion is higher, at about 27%. Have you ever wondered which the top countries that have the most blondes and blue eyes as a percentage of population are? Click to read the article and view the infographic. : 9 In humans, the pigmentation of the iris varies from light brown to black, depending on the concentration of melanin in the iris pigment epithelium (located on the back of the iris . In the US only 1 out of 6 people have a light (blue) eye colour. Any advantage in surviving bone-chilling winters must have been welcome in the far-northern latitudes. The answer largely depends on where you live or where your ancestors came from. [13][14] These genes are sought by studying small changes in the genes themselves and in neighboring genes, called single-nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs. Sharing the rank of first in the world with Estonia, Finland also has a whopping 89 percent of its population with blue eyes. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com. [28] In many parts of the world, it is nearly the only iris color present. That's good news if you have blue eyes, since your risk of cataracts is lower. That's 13 million people, out of the 7.6 billion on Earth. Worldwide, fewer than 9% of people have blue eyes. Persons with albinism have very little or no melanin in the iris. Researchers found that only 17 to 22 percent of white cats with non-blue eyes are born deaf. The iris is the colored part of the eye that surrounds the pupil. Whether you have blue, brown, green, or hazel eyes, always take good care of your eyes, it will keep them healthy for years to come! The more melanin concentration one has, the darker ones eyes will be. As we have noted, blonde hair and light eyes depend on the amount of melanin extracted. Blue eyes are most common in northern and eastern Europe, particularly around the Baltic Sea. [26] Hazel eyes are more common in Spaniards, North Africa, the Middle East, and Brazil. 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 . [5] Neither blue nor green pigments are present in the human iris or vitreous humour. For years, researchers had searched for it on the OCA2 gene. Iris color depends on the protein melanin which is stored in special cells, melanocytes. Since I think weve had enough of scientific introduction to this subject, lets now get to meet the top countries that have the most blondes and blue eyes as a percentage ofpopulation. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved, Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. At one time, it was believed that eye color, blue eyes included, was a simple genetic trait. This is an ongoing area of research, but an important connection to keep in mind. Blue eyes are caused by a gene mutation. 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. 9. Contact an eye doctor if you need medical attention. They look blue because of how light is reflected. Find an eyecare professional and book online in minutes! This results in the formation of KayserFleischer rings, which are dark rings that encircle the periphery of the iris. 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. Instead, they have less melanin, absorb less light, scatter more light and reflect it along the spectrum of light color. Finland is a country with a rich history and unique culture. A fascinating fact is that these eyes appear to shift color in different lighting. 2012;131(5):683-96. doi:10.1007/s00439-011-1110-x. As that generation had children and moved around, the blue eye mutation continued to spread across many parts of the globe. Contact lenses can give your eyes a hazel appearance. An iris that appears blue under this method of observation is more likely to remain blue as the infant ages. [92] In another study, people with darker eyes performed better at hitting racquetballs. All blue-eyed people have one ancestor in common, born around 6,000 to 10,000 years ago. The mutation, A111T, is found most commonly in Ireland and all . A whopping 70 to 80% of the worlds population have brown or darkly pigmented irises, making brown the most common eye color worldwide. 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). 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. About 93 percent of Han Chinese carry the variant, as do about 70 percent of people in Japan and Thailand, and 60 to 90 percent of American Indians, a population descended from East Asians. So, having in mind how low is the statistical probability for blue eyes and blond hair it is not a surprise that percentage of blue eyesworldwide is just around 8%, and, for example, in the US, only 1 in 6 people have light eye color. Melanin is also responsible for the color of our skin, eyes and hair. "Why Edinburgh residents are likely to be blue-eyed", "Genetic determinants of hair, eye and skin pigmentation in Europeans", "Eye Color Percentage for Across the Globe", "Is there any difference in the photobiological properties of melanins isolated from human blue and brown eyes? It is a result of the relative excess or lack of pigment within an iris or part of an iris, which may be inherited or acquired by disease or injury. Eyeglass temples: How do you know if they're the right length? If this gene activation never happens, a baby's eyes will stay blue. Many babies born with blue eyes experience a change in color as more pigment develops within the first three years. Most researchers believe that blue-eyed individuals may be more dominant among certain populations and less present in others. Blue eyes with a brown spot, green eyes, and gray eyes are caused by an entirely different part of the genome. (The name of the gene is derived from the disorder it causes, oculocutaneous albinism type II.) 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. The percentage rises to 40 percent if the cat has one blue eye, while upwards of 65 to 85 percent of all-white cats with both eyes blue are deaf. 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. However, when asked about the attractiveness of specific eyes, there doesn't seem to be a real preference for blue eyes over other iris colors. 207,208 - (1968), Last edited on 21 February 2023, at 15:18, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Phenotypes and Genotypes for human eye colors. The extensive study on the genetic mutation was carried out by researchers at three Japanese universities; the research concluded that the genetic mutation occurred around 9,000 BC, as a result of various environmental and evolutionary factors. Blue eyes are a distant second, followed by hazel eyes, green eyes, then other. This last category includes amber eyes, gray eyes and even violet 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. Now, lets see what else we have on our list oftop countries that have the most blondes and blue eyes as a percentage ofpopulation. Eye melanoma is known to be more common for those with fair skin and light-colored eyes. Redheads can change temperature quicker. Gray eyes are common in parts of Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and among the Algerian Shawia people in Northwest Africa. Just 22 per cent now have brown eyes, while 30 . An estimated 89 percent of Estonians have blue eyes. By Verla05. Icelandic people demonstrate a strong national pride in preserving their culture. [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. American Academy of Ophthalmology. 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. That little DNA blip was blue eye color, according to researchers at the University of Copenhagen. The content on this site is for informational purposes only. Changes (lightening or darkening) of eye color during early childhood, puberty, pregnancy, and sometimes after serious trauma (like heterochromia) suggest that eyes sometimes change color under certain circumstances, due to chemical reactions or hormonal changes within the body. Longer wavelengths of light tend to be absorbed by the dark underlying epithelium, while shorter wavelengths are reflected and undergo Rayleigh scattering in the turbid medium of the stroma. Sitting sixth on this list, Denmark 's population is 60 percent blue-eyed. Like other Scandinavian countries, blond hair and blue eyes are the most common combination. Eye color may not remain constant throughout your life. Because of this, the pupillary reflex is much more pronounced in albino individuals, and this can emphasize the red eye effect in photographs. The higher the melanin concentration in the iris, the darker the eye color will be. 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). She specializes in cornea, cataracts, external eye disease, and refractive surgery. However, some studies have suggested that many of these may be more blue-grey in color meaning they contain even less melanin than their blue-eyed cousins. Amber eyes have a little more melanin than hazel eyes, and still account for approximately 5% of the population. Share with Friends Add To Playlist. Around 17 per cent of people have blue eyes, and when combined with 1-2 per cent having red hair, the odds of having both traits are around 0.17 per cent. Grndl M, Knoll S, Eisenmann-Klein M, Prantl L. The blue-eyes stereotype: do eye color, pupil diameter, and scleral color affect attractiveness? Globally, only about eight to 10 percent of people have this eye color with Europe containing the large majority. 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.. While it's a very rare type of cancer, people with blue eyes are at higher risk of developing ocular uveal melanoma. Dark brown eyes are dominant in humans. Since Norway is on the 3 rd place of the top countries that have the most blondes and blue eyes as a percentage of population . "Originally, we all had brown eyes" said Eiberg. Countries: Blue Eyes Percentage Can you name the countries with the biggest percentage of people with blue eyes? "Blue eyes are seen as powerful. Thats because eye color comes from melanin, the same brown pigment that gives color to our hair and skin. . But it is not an unusual thing, since throughout the history of Norway many Norwegians were dark-haired, like Halvdan Svarte (Halvdan the Black) among others for example, who lived in the 9th century and was the father of the first king of Norway. Are Blue-Eyed People More Likely to Get Macular Degeneration? [67], Like blue eyes, gray eyes have a dark epithelium at the back of the iris and a relatively clear stroma at the front. [49] Around 810% of men and 1821% of women in Iceland and 6% of men and 17% of women in the Netherlands, have green eyes. Only 2% of the world's population have green eyes, making it the rarest eye color. The higher the amount of melanin in the iris and the denser the texture of the melanin, the darker the color of a person's eyes; the same melanin concentration also depends on many factors such as hereditary and environmental ones. It shows up in about 9% of Americans but only 2% of the world's population. Favorite. Iceland, the northernmost country of the bunch, has the greatest percentage of people with blue eyes. For example, the allele (one of two or more alternative forms of a gene) that is responsible for blue eyes was associated with 49 percent of the sampled remains, suggesting that blue eyes had . 10 . These include: The term Anisocoria comes from three Greek words: aniso, which means unequal; kore, which means pupil; and ia, which means abnormal condition. There is no blue pigmentation either in the iris or in the vitreous body. The top layer, called the epithelium, is where the melanin (pigment) that gives an eye its color lives. Eye color is one of the first things people notice about one another. 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. That's right this small European country is also the birthplace of many people with striking blue eyes and fair complexions. 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. Also, hazel eyes may appear to shift in color and consist of flecks and ripples, while amber eyes are of a solid gold hue. But lets not get things too scientific at this point. [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]. 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. Common Eye Disorders. Cavin Herbert Eye Institute. Rather than including a blue pigment, they actually just lack the pigment that makes eyes brown. One more usual hair color is red, and also green eye color, being among the rarest in the world. [3][6] This is an example of structural color, which depends on the lighting conditions, especially for lighter-colored eyes. The most common eye color is dark brown in Africa, East Asia, and Southeast Asia. Between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago, a baby was born in Europe with a harmless genetic mutation. 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. The highest percentages of fair-haired people can be found around the Baltic Sea (e.g. Sitting sixth on this list, Denmark's population is 60 percent blue-eyed. or brown eyes. Brown eyes have the highest amount of melanin in the iris, and blue eyes have the least. On average, they have 90,000 strands, while blondes . Blue eyes are also found in Central Asia, North Africa, South Asia, West Asia, and Southern Europe. Blue eyes aren't even actually blue. In other words, it's impossible to know for sure if your children will have blue eyes or any other color. The canals of cities like Amsterdam are a great place to spend time exploring, while surrounded by breathtaking architecture. It's also the story of the bond she fights to maintain with her 10 year-old sister, Arina. Green 2.0%. Time for Heating Systems 101. Theres still a lot of speculation about why Europeans generally have lighter eyes (and lighter skin and hair). Blue eye color is determined by melanin, and melanin is actually brown by nature. developed a graded system based on the predominant iris color and the amount of brown or yellow pigment present. [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. The mutation occurred between . 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. They lower your risk of developing cataracts, for instance. The colored part of the eye is called the iris. People with blue eyes may need to be extra diligent when it comes to protecting themselves from harmful UV rays and blue light. Scientists are looking into the possibility of those who have blue eyes being at higher risk for sensorineural hearing loss. [18] Other genes implicated in eye color variation are SLC24A4[19] and TYR. But about 30 percent of left-handed folks are either partial to the right hemisphere or have no dominant hemisphere at all. They look blue because of how light is reflected. Especially, Intraocular Melanoma. [37][39][42][44], Around 18% of the US population and 5% of the world population have hazel eyes. This damage will cause your vision to become blurrier and more distorteda condition called macular degeneration. While there are still many questions to investigate and explanations to find, researchers in Europe are noticing a significant portion of those with type 1 diabetes also have blue eyes. [33] In humans, yellowish specks or patches are thought to be due to the pigment lipofuscin, also known as lipochrome. Both parents have to pass along the blue eye gene in order for their child to have blue eyes. Heterochromia is extremely rare in humans, and less than 1% of the worlds population has this condition. [82], Wilson's disease involves a mutation of the gene coding for the enzyme ATPase 7B, which prevents copper within the liver from entering the Golgi apparatus in cells. Of those four, green is the rarest. Blue eyes are an inherited trait. It may take up to six months for the gene responsible for creating the pigment in the eyes to activate melanin production. Blue eyes as a risk factor for type 1 diabetes. Bilirubin thus accumulates in the blood and makes the sclera and skin yellow. (An estimated 55 percent of all people . If you inherit blue-eye genes from your parents, it means that your eyes will have less of a pigment called melanin in them. For blue-eyed people, this top layer lacks melanin. A person may also have more than one eye color, a condition called Heretochromia, which affects less than 1% of people. Brown melanin is the only pigment that exists in the eye; there is no pigment for hazel or green or blue. 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