The mutation occurred between . [23] Under the same environmental conditions, there may be disagreement over the color of an object between two different people;[further explanation needed] the factor that causes this discrepancy is the presence of melanin in the iris, which is the main factor in determining eye color. Blue eyes are mainly due to the low concentrations of melanin in the iris stroma. Red hair is . That same study suggested an intriguing possibility: Blue-eyed northern Europeans may have somehow adapted an ability to fend off seasonal affective disorder (S.A.D., also known as the winter blues). Denmark - Approximately 60%. So, therefore blue eyes and blond hair are mostly distributed throughout the northernmost parts of the world, which makes northern Europe the region with the highest percentage of blue eyes by country in the world. : 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 . Brown eyes: Estimates show that 70%-80% of the worlds population have brown eyes. Finland is a country with a rich history and unique culture. Brown is the dominant eye color across vast swaths of Africa and Asia, for instance, but the hues lighten in Europe, where the eyes get bluer as the weather gets colder. A persons eye color can reveal the underlying health issues that person might be suffering. Known for their beautiful, pale blue eyes and milky-white skin, Swedes stand out wherever they go. Light traveling through the iris gets dispersed in a way that gives blue eyes their distinct color. 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. Medicaid: Eligibility and Vision Benefits. Page published on Wednesday, February 27, 2019. [12], Eye color is an inherited trait determined by multiple genes. [101], As the perception of color depends on viewing conditions (e.g., the amount and kind of illumination, as well as the hue of the surrounding environment), so does the perception of eye color. Blue eyes have almost no tint in the front layer of the iris. A team of scientists has tracked down a genetic mutation that leads to blue eyes. [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. By Verla05. Eye melanoma is known to be more common for those with fair skin and light-colored eyes. In those with milder forms of albinism, the color of the iris is typically blue but can vary from blue to brown. [26] For the blue eye color, we have gathered general information from Quora, and have also searched for additional information on countries individually. 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. Between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago, a baby was born in Europe with a harmless genetic mutation. Different SNPs within OCA2 are strongly associated with blue and green eyes as well as variations in freckling, mole counts, hair and skin tone. This article discusses where blue eyes come from and how having blue eyes may increase your risk for certain health conditions. [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. Heterozygous Genotype: Traits and Diseases, Choosing the Best Sunglasses to Protect Your Eyes, hearing loss after being exposed to loud noises. Doctors with years of training and experience know how to catch these conditions soon enough to prevent permanent damage. Yellowing of the sclera (the "whites of the eyes") is associated with jaundice,[84] and may be symptomatic of liver diseases such as cirrhosis or hepatitis. Amber 5.0%. 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. Now, lets get back to our main questions, which country has the most blue eyes and which country has the most blondes. [92] In another study, people with darker eyes performed better at hitting racquetballs. Only about 8 % to 10% of the world's population has blue eyes. 10 . Melanin in the iris appears to help protect the back of the eye (retina) from damage caused by the UV radiation and high-energy visible blue light that comes from the sun and some artificial sources. In the U.S., that proportion is higher, at about 27%. The eyes of some pigeons contain yellow fluorescing pigments known as pteridines. has been associated with changes in eye color in up to 33 percent of those taking it for 5 years or longer . Can You Have One Blue Eye and One Brown Eye? [3]:9. Read our. Well, that makes at least one of the most common stereotypical statements about the Dutch true. [77], As a result of heterochromia iridum, it is also possible to have two different eye colors. 15 Best Places to Travel in November in Europe, Asia and Tropical Destinations 15 Most Expensive Items You Can Buy on Amazon. 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. Studies on Caucasian twins, both fraternal and identical, have shown that eye color over time can be subject to change, and major demelanization of the iris may also be genetically determined. They lower your risk of developing cataracts, for instance. Blue eyes are also found in Central Asia, North Africa, South Asia, West Asia, and Southern Europe. In addition to genetics, the anatomic structure of the iris can also affect eye color to some degree. [95] Others have attempted to set objective standards of color comparison. Denmark, the Polish coast and the Baltic states), making it in effect an almost entirely blonde-bounded lake. [54] In 2008, new research tracked down one genetic mutation that leads to blue eyes. One thing that truly sets people apart is their eye color. Get our editors daily picks straight in your inbox! Eye color is one of the first things people notice about one another. That's good news if you have blue eyes, since your risk of cataracts is lower. This results in the formation of KayserFleischer rings, which are dark rings that encircle the periphery of the iris. [73], Although the deep blue eyes of some people such as Elizabeth Taylor can appear purple or violet at certain times, "true" violet-colored eyes occur only due to albinism. Hazel eyes are due to a combination of Rayleigh scattering and a moderate amount of melanin in the iris' anterior border layer. This page was last edited on 21 February 2023, at 15:18. See More by this Creator. So, the more melanin you have, the darker your eyes appear. An article released Monday in the peer-reviewed . initiative combines industry-leading health and safety standards with virtual technologies designed to keep real estate moving forward, and give our employees, customers and partners confidence and support to stay safe. The highest percentages of fair-haired people can be found around the Baltic Sea (e.g. 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. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com. In Norway, an estimated 75% of the population . doi:10.1016/j.heares.2014.12.002, Donnelly MP, Paschou P, Grigorenko E, et al. [12] A specific mutation within the HERC2 gene, a gene that regulates OCA2 expression, is partly responsible for blue eyes. [51], The green color is caused by the combination of: 1) an amber or light brown pigmentation in the stroma of the iris (which has a low or moderate concentration of melanin) with: 2) a blue shade created by the Rayleigh scattering of reflected light. 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. 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. So don't be concerned if your child begins to lose their baby-blue eye color. By contrast, less than 1 in every 100 people in southern Europe . Nevertheless, both figures leave Estonia among the top countries that have the most blondes and blue eyes as a percentage of population. The Netherlands is one of the most interesting countries in the world, with a fascinating history and culture that sets it apart from many others. 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. View Reports-/5-RATE If you have dark brown hair and brown eyes, you have something in common with most people around the globe. Blue Eyes - 8 to 10%. Report. 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 . From 6-36 months, cells in the iris start producing melanin and the eye color will change. Researches at Penn State University identified SLC24A5 as the gene responsible for skin pigmentation, and a specific mutation within it responsible for fair skin. Hazel eyes are usually a combination of green and brown and often flecks of gold or orange. [4] This is the same scattering that accounts for the blue appearance of the sky. The total number of genes that contribute to eye color is unknown, but there are a few likely candidates. Having blue eyes has its advantages. Boys are 3 percent to 5 percent likelier to have blue eyes than girls, but beyond that it's a non-issue -- physiologically speaking. Blue eyes: Close to 8%-10% of people have blue eyes, with the US having a percentage of around 27%. They look blue because of how light is reflected. Arina was adopted by a family in Toronto four years . Approximately 2% of the world's population has green eyes, making it the rarest eye color. But lets not get things too scientific at this point. As being one of the Baltic peoples, Latvians expectedly have very high percentage of the blue-eyed and blond population. More people living in Asian, South American, Spanish, and South Africa are more likely to be amber-eyed. This one person with a genetic mutation had children, and the trait was passed to the next generation. Green irises, for example, have some yellow and the blue structural color. In 2016, scientists found that our pale skin complexion is inherited from just one man who lived thousands of years ago. 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. The higher the melanin concentration in the iris, the darker the eye color will be. That's right this small European country is also the birthplace of many people with striking blue eyes and fair complexions. Human eyes don't have their full amount of melanin pigment at birth. Most researchers believe that blue-eyed individuals may be more dominant among certain populations and less present in others. [18] Other genes implicated in eye color variation are SLC24A4[19] and TYR. If this gene activation never happens, a baby's eyes will stay blue. Eye color depends on how much of a pigment called melanin lives in the iris of the eye. Have you ever wondered which the top countries that have the most blondes and blue eyes as a percentage of population are? 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. Blue eyes actually didn't exist 10,000 years ago. [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. It's completely normal to see blue become brown, hazel, or even green as they get a little older. Take a look in the mirror. Unlike hazel eyes, which appear to shift colors, amber eyes have a solid gold hue. 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 . 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). [10][11] However, OCA2 gene polymorphism, close to proximal 5' regulatory region, explains most human eye-color variation. Although these conditions cannot permanently change the color of the iris, they generally affect the eyes sclera or cornea. Having blue eyes has its advantages. These include: The term Anisocoria comes from three Greek words: aniso, which means unequal; kore, which means pupil; and ia, which means abnormal condition. Home Improvement / story. MedlinePlus. Normally, there is a thick layer of melanin on the back of the iris. Eye color not only affects ones personality but also reflects ones ancestry, the melanin concentration in irises, and even ones current health condition. At first, you may not notice that you have a cataract. As we have noted, blonde hair and light eyes depend on the amount of melanin extracted. 27% with blue . And around 10%, 5%, and 2% . It shows up in about 9% of Americans but only 2% of the world's population. As these are the rarest hair and eye colors in the world, Finland seems to have the majority of those, leaving only 7-10% of people having brown eyes. 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. Normal eye colors range from the darkest shades of brown to the lightest tints of blue. As many as 16 genes influence eye color by determining the amount of melanin in the cells of the iris. Symptoms of uveitis include burning and redness of the eyes, blurred vision, headaches, etc. There are three types of Heterochromia: complete, sectoral, and central. The different types of uveitis are: Anterior uveitis, Intermediate uveitis, Posterior uveitis, and Pan-uveitis. The iris has two layers. Gray eyes are common in parts of Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and among the Algerian Shawia people in Northwest Africa. Brown melanin is the only pigment that exists in the eye; there is . [27] Green eyes contain the yellowish pigment lipochrome.[52]. Blue-eyed, fair-skinned settlers inhabited the Levant some 6,500 years ago, according to an international interdisciplinary team of scientists. Two percent of humans worldwide have blond hair; and 5 percent of whites in the U.S., according to the researchers. New research shows that people with blue eyes have a single, common ancestor. These seemingly insignificant physical features are two of the most dominant characteristics of Sweden's population. At the end, what we got was a blonde map of Europe. Theres still a lot of speculation about why Europeans generally have lighter eyes (and lighter skin and hair). However, a blue-eyed child is almost certain if both parents have blue eyes. Black People With Blue Eyes. Eiberg studied the DNA of 800 men and women with blue eyes from varying countries ranging from "fair-skinned, blond-haired Scandinavians to dark-skinned, blue-eyed people living in Turkey and . 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. 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. Eye color is partially affected by light, especially blue eyes, which get their color specifically by light entering and reflecting out of the eye. Eye color in non-human animals is regulated differently. [66] 56% of Slovenes have blue/green eyes. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. Estonia is the country most known for its fair-skinned, blue-eyed population, followed closely by Finland. 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. 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. In fact, over 80 percent of the inhabitants of Estonia . A baby's eyes may be blue during this time, but later change color. 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. The lack of pigment leads to red or violet eyes and often problems with their eyesight. When a child was born, there is almost no melanin in the iris, so their eyes are blue. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 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. [74][75][76] Eyes that appear red or violet under certain conditions due to albinism are less than 1 percent of the world's population. In most people, the back layer has at least some brown pigment in it, even if their eyes don't look brown. Protecting your eyes and getting regular check ups is important no matter the color of your irises. Another hypothesis about heterochromia is that it can result from a viral infection in utero affecting the development of one eye, possibly through some sort of genetic mutation. 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. The cultural implications are another story. 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. Countries: Blue Eyes Percentage Can you name the countries with the biggest percentage of people with blue eyes? Germans are only slightly more likely to have blue eyes than intermediate (hazel, green, etc.) Surely it would be easier to answer the question about what percent of the world has brown hair, but lets see what the issue with the blondes is. Are contact lenses a good choice for kids? It is darkest when we are at our healthiest and naturally fades . "[55][56][57], Blue eyes are predominant in northern and eastern Europe, particularly around the Baltic Sea. They lower your risk of developing cataracts, for instance. The color of ones eye is perhaps one of the first things people observe when they see each other. The more melanin concentration one has, the darker ones eyes will be. Europe was the epicenter of the blue-eye gene mutation. Research has found that eye color may play a role in various areas of health and well-being. 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. [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]. However, approximately 6,000 to 10,000 years ago, the blue-eyed gene mutation spread. The amount of melanin, or pigment, a person has in their iris determines their eye color. The colored part of the eye is called the iris. Recent advances in ancient DNA technology have revealed some of the history of eye color in Europe. If you have blue eyes, it means the iris part of your eyes lacks melanin, so, technically, blue eyes don't have any color. While it's a very rare type of cancer, people with blue eyes are at higher risk of developing ocular uveal melanoma. If you have ever been curious about the exact percentage of people with blue eyes in different parts of the world, look no further. [85] A blue coloration of the sclera may also be symptomatic of disease. (An estimated 55 percent of all people . Ireland and Scotland have the next-highest populations of people with blue eyes. Icelandic people demonstrate a strong national pride in preserving their culture. Gray is the second-rarest natural eye color after green, with 3% of the world's population having it. 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. "From this we can conclude that all blue-eyed individuals are linked to the same ancestor," said Eiberg. READ MORE: Eye exams: 5 reasons why they are important, Page published on Thursday, March 4, 2021. Close to 3% of people in the world have gray eyes. Amber eyes may also contain amounts of very light gold-ish gray. For example, the film actor Lee Van Cleef was born with one blue eye and one green eye, a trait that reportedly was common in his family, suggesting that it was a genetic trait. About 5% of the worlds population and 18% of Americans have hazel eyes -- a mixture of green, gold, and orange. One more usual hair color is red, and also green eye color, being among the rarest in the world. All blue-eyed people have one ancestor in common, born around 6,000 to 10,000 years ago. 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. Green eyes are common in Europe's Central, Western, and Northern regions. In fact, more than half of all Americans age 80 or older either have cataracts or have had surgery to get rid of cataracts. Researchers at the American Academy of Opthalmology have stated that everyone on planet earth had brown eyes around 10,000 years ago. [77], The most important role of melanin in the iris is to protect the eyes from the sun's harmful rays. Blue eyes percentage: 50-80. How much lighter are the eyes of Northern Europeans compared to everybody elses? In their study, Eiberg and his team recruited 800 blue-eyed men and women across different countries. Scientists have tracked down a genetic mutation which took place 6,000-10,000 years ago and is the cause of the eye . The mutation, A111T, is found most commonly in Ireland and all . [50] Among European Americans, green eyes are most common among those of recent Celtic and Germanic ancestry with about 16%. Priscilla Vu, MD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist. In humans, this pigmentation of the iris depends on the melanin concentration in the iris pigment epithelium, it's content within the iris stroma, as well as the cellular density of the stroma. Eyeglass temples: How do you know if they're the right length? This is because - according to research - redheads are more sensitive to hot and cold pain. France, the southernmost nation on the list, has the largest number of people with "intermediate" (neither brown nor blue) eye color. Free shipping on all US orders! In other words, it's impossible to know for sure if your children will have blue eyes or any other color. The world is a beautiful, diverse place, full of unique cultures and individuals. Below is a list of the top six countries with the most blue-eyed people. Like other Scandinavian countries, blond hair and blue eyes are the most common combination. Mujica-Mota MA, Schermbrucker J, Daniel SJ. Bilirubin thus accumulates in the blood and makes the sclera and skin yellow. Although rare, green eyes are found to be rather catchy especially . "Originally, we all had brown eyes," said Hans Eiberg, associate professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the university. Since beauty is nowadays mostly the matter of a subjective opinion, there are still some standards that define someone as beautiful, but on that matter, you will find more interesting information in the article aboutcountries with the most beautiful women in Europe andcountries with the most beautiful women in the world. [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. To put that in perspective, 79% of people have brown eyes. The polymorphisms may be in an OCA2 regulatory sequence, where they may influence the expression of the gene product, which in turn affects pigmentation. Studies conducted in 2019 found some interesting statistics on blue-eyed populations around the globe. 3. (This same effect makes the sky appear blue.). Both parents may have icy blue eyes, but that's no guarantee their child's eyes will even be blue at all. "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? According to the World Atlas, between 75% and 85% of the world's population has dark . According to medical science, people with light-colored eyes such as blue, green or grey have a higher risk of eye cancer. Krystina is a Technical Writer with a background in healthcare. Photochromic lenses are another way to protect blue eyes from UV radiation. Vika - a 17 year-old Ukrainian orphan with fiery red hair, bright blue eyes and an everlasting laugh - is setting out into the world for the very first time, all alone. Brown melanin is the only pigment that exists in the eye; there is no pigment for hazel or green or blue. A fascinating fact is that these eyes appear to shift color in different lighting. This color transition can take anywhere from a few months to three years to run its course. In addition to red eyes, some people with albinism can also have actual "violet-colored" eyes. In the US, 45% of people have brown eyes, while the rarest eye color is green only 9% of people in the US have green eyes. Persons with albinism have very little or no melanin in the iris. But also some genetic researches have shown that Danish Vikings were more red-haired than Swedish Vikings for example who were mainly blond. If there is enough or too much melanin, the eyes are brown and black. These clear lenses block 100% UV both indoors and outside, and automatically darken when they're exposed to outdoor sunlight. [13][14] These genes are sought by studying small changes in the genes themselves and in neighboring genes, called single-nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs. Summary. Blue 8.0%. These people make up about 9% of the U.S. population. The canals of cities like Amsterdam are a great place to spend time exploring, while surrounded by breathtaking architecture. At the same time, nearly half of the U.S. population has brown eyes. 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. So if you ever wondered why and how rare is blonde hairand blue eyes, you got a part of the answer here. Many babies born with blue eyes experience a change in color as more pigment develops within the first three years. 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Enough to prevent permanent damage to 33 percent of those taking it for 5 years or longer, generally! Than Intermediate ( hazel, or pigment, a baby 's eyes will be 1 in 100!