Countries With The Most Blue-Eyed People (2024)

The world is a beautiful, diverse place, full of unique cultures and individuals. One thing that truly sets people apart is their eye color. Most researchers believe that blue-eyed individuals may be more dominant among certain populations and less present in others. Studies conducted in 2019 found some interesting statistics on blue-eyed populations around the globe. Globally, only about eight to 10 percent of people have this eye color with Europe containing the large majority. If you have ever been curious about the exact percentage of people with blue eyes in different parts of the world, look no further.

Below is a list of the top six countries with the most blue-eyed people.

Where Do Blue Eyes Come From?

Countries With The Most Blue-Eyed People (1)

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! Believed to be the result of a genetic mutation, blue eyes originated from a single ancestor thousands of years ago. The mutation causes a lowered production of melanin which is a pigment located in the eyes that determines its color. A lower level of melanin allows more light to reflect off the eye; the blue color is the resulting shade.

Originally, all human eyes were brown. However, approximately 6,000 to 10,000 years ago, the blue-eyed gene mutation spread. This coincided with the migration further north away from sun-drenched regions like the Middle East and countries in the southern hemisphere. Some speculate that this change in environment was a contributing factor. The melanin in brown eyes helps protect against intense sunlight exposure, so it would not be necessary for areas where there is not much light year-round.

Estonia – 89%

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An estimated 89 percent of Estonians have blue eyes. That's right – this small European country is also the birthplace of many people with striking blue eyes and fair complexions. 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.

Finland89%

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Finland is a country with a rich history and unique culture. Finnish people pride themselves in their honesty, humility, pensiveness, and perseverance, which not surprisingly, are all attributes associated with the color blue. Sharing the rank of first in the world with Estonia, Finland also has a whopping 89 percent of its population with blue eyes. 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.

Sweden 78%

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Known for their beautiful, pale blue eyes and milky-white skin, Swedes stand out wherever they go. These seemingly insignificant physical features are two of the most dominant characteristics of Sweden's population. They are also part of what makes Swedes so unique!

Iceland 75.5%

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Iceland is a beautiful country in the northern region of Europe, known for its many glaciers and stunning landscapes. Icelandic people demonstrate a strong national pride in preserving their culture. Additionally, Icelanders are very passionate about supporting their sports teams! With a 75.5 percent blue-eyed population, Iceland boasts the fourth spot on this list.

Netherlands Approximately 61%

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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 canals of cities like Amsterdam are a great place to spend time exploring, while surrounded by breathtaking architecture. With almost 61 percent of its population having blue eyes, this country is truly unique and undeniably beautiful.

DenmarkApproximately 60%

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Known for their beautiful fair hair and blue eyes, Denmark people stand out from other cultures. Sitting sixth on this list, Denmark's population is 60 percent blue-eyed. Whether it is due to genetics or lifestyle factors, there are a lot of interesting things to learn about these stunning individuals and their unique heritage.

Risks To Having Blue Eyes

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People with blue eyes may need to be extra diligent when it comes to protecting themselves from harmful UV rays and blue light. Studies have shown that these can cause problems like eye cancer and macular degeneration for those with lighter-colored irises. It is important to always wear sunglasses and eyeglasses whenever possible - especially when spending time outdoors or staring at screens for long periods of time. 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!

Countries With The Most Blue-Eyed People

RankCountryPercentage of Population That is Blue-Eyed
1Estonia89
2Finland89
3Sweden78
4Iceland75.5
5Netherlands60.9
6Denmark59.6
7Ireland57
8Norway55
9Poland52.5
10Scotland50
11England48
12Wales45
13Slovenia44.7
14Germany39.6
15Belgium28.9
16Ukraine25
17France22
18United States16.6
19Spain16.3

In Summary

While eye color is not a defining characteristic of a person, it can be interesting to see how the distribution of different colors varies from place to place. Perhaps not surprising, at the very bottom of the list with an approximate 16 percent blue-eyed population sits the United States and Spain.

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Eleni Veroutsos October 27 2022 in Nature

Countries With The Most Blue-Eyed People (2024)

FAQs

Which country has most blue-eyed people? ›

Estonia is the country with the most blue-eyed individuals in the world. 89% of its population have blue eyes.

What ethnic groups have blue eyes? ›

Europe has the widest variety of eye color, according to Custers, who adds those of European descent are the largest population of blue eyes. Europe was the epicenter of the blue-eye gene mutation. More than 80 percent of the inhabitants of Estonia and Scandinavian countries have blue eyes.

What countries have the most colored eyes? ›

The highest prevalence of any of the eye color traits was observed in Uzbekistan (>90% for 'brown'), while Iceland followed closely with a prevalence of 74.52% for 'blue' eyes.

What is the rarest eye color? ›

How many eye colors are there, and why your shade is unique to you. At some point, you've probably wondered what the rarest eye color is. The answer is green, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). Only about 2 percent of the world's population sport this shade.

Where is the rarest eye color in the world? ›

Of those four, green is the rarest. It shows up in about 9% of Americans but only 2% of the world's population. Hazel/amber is the next rarest of these.
...
Gray: The Rarest Eye Color.
EYE COLORU.S. POPULATIONWORLD POPULATION
Brown45%55% to 79%
4 more rows
Nov 23, 2022

Are blue eyes originally from Africa? ›

A couple of years ago, scientist determined that BLUE EYES was a MUTATION that occurred around 6,000 years ago and it stems from A BLACK MALE AFRICAN ORIGIN. They report several archeological proofs puts this event around the BLACK SEA AREA.

Where do blue eyes descended from? ›

Because blue eye color is found almost exclusively in people of European descent, Eiberg's team speculates that the mutation traces back to the Neolithic expansion, when people in the Black Sea region migrated to northern Europe 6000 to 10,000 years ago.

Can African American have blue eyes? ›

African-Americans with blue eyes are not unheard of, but they are pretty rare. There are lots of ways for this to happen. Some possible ways an African-American person might have ended up with blue eyes are: Caucasian relatives in their ancestry (the most likely reason)

Are all blue eyed people from Europe? ›

Scientists concluded that every blue-eyed person on the world today can trace their ancestry back to a single European who probably lived about 10,000 years ago in the Black Sea region and who first developed a specific mutation that accounts for the now widespread iris coloration.

Do most Europeans have blue eyes? ›

Most humans have only one hair color and one eye color. Europeans are a big exception: their hair is black but also brown, flaxen, golden, or red; their eyes are brown but also blue, gray, hazel, or green. This diversity reaches a maximum in an area centered on the East Baltic and covering northern and eastern Europe.

How common are blue eyes in Europe? ›

In Europe and Central Asia
CountryPercentage with “brown” eyes (also includes hazel)Percentage with “blue” eyes (also includes gray)
France34%22%
Germany27.20%39.60%
Great Britain31.77%42.80%
Iceland9.22%74.52%
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