[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. 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. 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 . Even people with the lightest blue eyes, with no melanin on the front of the iris at all, have dark brown coloration on the back of it, to prevent light from scattering around inside the eye. Amber eyes are a solid color with a strong yellowish/golden and russet/coppery tint, which may be due to the yellow pigment called lipochrome (also found in green eyes). However, a blue-eyed child is almost certain if both parents have blue eyes. By Steve Asbell on 15 Jan 2019. [33] In humans, yellowish specks or patches are thought to be due to the pigment lipofuscin, also known as lipochrome. [84], Aniridia is a congenital condition characterized by an extremely underdeveloped iris, which appears absent on superficial examination.[86]. See More by this Creator. Human eyes don't have their full amount of melanin pigment at birth. This is because - according to research - redheads are more sensitive to hot and cold pain. Scientists believe that all blue-eyed people can be traced back to a common ancestor, who probably had a genetic mutation that reduced their melanin in the iris. Instead, the copper accumulates in the liver and in other tissues, including the iris of the eye. Brenda J Bradley, Anja Pedersen, Nicholas I Mundy: Piquet-Thepot M.-M. - Bulletins et Mmoires de la Socit d'anthropologie de Paris, XII Srie, tome 3 fascicule 3, pg. Eyeglass temples: How do you know if they're the right length? [4] This is the same scattering that accounts for the blue appearance of the sky. Eye melanoma is known to be more common for those with fair skin and light-colored eyes. 27% with blue . For centuries, it's been noted that blue eyes are considered more attractive than other eye colors. Eyeglass temples: How do you know if they're the right length? Click to read the article and view the infographic. They look blue because of how light is reflected. Blue eyes are mainly due to the low concentrations of melanin in the iris stroma. Hazel eyes are most common in the Middle East, North Africa, Brazil, and people of Spanish heritage. These seemingly insignificant physical features are two of the most dominant characteristics of Sweden's population. A mosaic can have two different colored eyes if the DNA difference happens to be in an eye-color gene. This is why regular eye exams repay your investment many times over. Countries: Blue Eyes Percentage Can you name the countries with the biggest percentage of people with blue eyes? [46], Green eyes are most common in Northern, Western and Central Europe. The number of cylindrical cells is more than the number of color receptors and reaches about 120 million; cone cells, which are smaller in number than light receptors, have color vision and are divided into three distinct categories, each of which recognizes one of the colors blue, red, and green, allowing the individual to distinguish colors. 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. Eye color may not remain constant throughout your life. One more usual hair color is red, and also green eye color, being among the rarest in the world. [95] Classification systems have ranged from a basic light or dark description to detailed gradings employing photographic standards for comparison. [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. Redheads have fewer strands of hair on their heads. This means everyone with blue eyes has one thing in commonthey're all related. or brown eyes. [47][48] In Scotland, 29% of people have green eyes. Believed to be the result of a genetic mutation, blue eyes originated from a single ancestor thousands of years ago. [92] In another study, people with darker eyes performed better at hitting racquetballs. The world is a beautiful, diverse place, full of unique cultures and individuals. That's called phototoxicity. Brown melanin is the only pigment that exists in the eye; there is no pigment for hazel or green or blue. Additionally, Icelanders are very passionate about supporting their sports teams! Plus, although this cancer is extremely rare, light-eyed folks are also more susceptible to sun damage from exposure to UV rays. The mutation occurred between . Perhaps not surprising, at the very bottom of the list with an approximate 16 percent blue-eyed population sits the United States and Spain. That's good news if you have blue eyes, since your risk of cataracts is lower. 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 are most common in northern and eastern Europe, particularly around the Baltic Sea. The color of our eyes depends on how much melanin is present in the iris. After green, gray is the second-rarest natural eye color, with 3% of the worlds population having gray eyes. Finland is a country with a rich history and unique culture. Whats the Difference Between Vitiligo and Albinism? As the child develops, melanocytes (cells found within the iris of human eyes, as well as skin and hair follicles) slowly begin to produce melanin. 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. 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. At one time, it was believed that eye color, blue eyes included, was a simple genetic trait. All About Vision does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As far as researchers can tell, this was the first person with blue eyes, and everyone who has blue eyes today is a (very) distant relative of this ancient human. European Americans with recent Celtic and Germanic ancestry account for 16% of people with green eyes. 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. 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. Home Improvement / story. The iris is the colored part of the eye. Free shipping on all US orders! While blue eyes may be rare . 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. Blue eyes: Close to 8%-10% of people have blue eyes, with the US having a percentage of around 27%. 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. Green eyes: The most attractive eye color? The color of ones eye is perhaps one of the first things people observe when they see each other. An estimated 89 percent of Estonians have blue eyes. To put that in perspective, 79% of people have brown eyes. All About Vision and AllAboutVision.com are registered trademarks of AAV Media, LLC. About 5% of the worlds population and 18% of Americans have hazel eyes -- a mixture of green, gold, and orange. Most newborn babies who have European ancestry have light-colored eyes. Protecting your eyes and getting regular check ups is important no matter the color of your irises. [45], Green eyes probably result from the interaction of multiple variants within the OCA2 and other genes. So, there's less worry of a vitamin D deficiency for redheads. It shows up in about 9% of Americans but only 2% of the world's population. Hearing Research. Although rare, green eyes are found to be rather catchy especially . The AAO states that those with central heterochromia have iris with two differently colored rings, while those with complete heterochromia have one iris with a different color. SEE RELATED: Is blue the rarest eye color? Waardenburg Syndrome: Pale Blue Eyes, Hearing Loss, and More. 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. Give Orange. 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. Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue Crystal GayleIt was released in June 1977 and reached Number 1 on the Country Billboard Charts, Number 2 on the Billboard Ho. In cases of central Heterochromia, the irises are identical, but there is a ring of different colors around the pupil. Viking stereotypes for being tall, strong, blond and blue-eyed are confirmed at least for the last two matters in the case of Denmark. Sturm R.A. & Larsson M., Genetics of human iris colour and patterns, Pigment Cell Melanoma Res, 22:544-562, 2009. [5] Neither blue nor green pigments are present in the human iris or vitreous humour. Instead, they have less melanin, absorb less light, scatter more light and reflect it along the spectrum of light color. The color can be from the very pale blond (caused by a patchy, scarce distribution of pigment) to reddish "strawberry" blond or golden-brownish ("sandy") blond . January 2008. That's 13 million people, out of the 7.6 billion on Earth. [18] Other genes implicated in eye color variation are SLC24A4[19] and TYR. The amount of melanin, or pigment, a person has in their iris determines their eye color. Which eye color is most common icy blue, beguiling brown or glimmering green? Iceland, the northernmost country of the bunch, has the greatest percentage of people with blue eyes. Summary. Brown melanin is the only pigment that exists in the eye; there is . 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. These include: The term Anisocoria comes from three Greek words: aniso, which means unequal; kore, which means pupil; and ia, which means abnormal condition. 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 . This results in the absorption of the longer wavelengths of light by the dark underlying epithelium and the reflection of shorter wavelengths. 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. Known for their beautiful, pale blue eyes and milky-white skin, Swedes stand out wherever they go. 9. Icelandic people demonstrate a strong national pride in preserving their culture. Blue eyes percentage: 50-80. This anomaly, which film producers thought would be disturbing to film audiences, was "corrected" by having Van Cleef wear brown contact lenses. [7] Humans and other animals have many phenotypic variations in eye color. The colored part of the eye is called the iris. The hazel eye color is primarily due to the combination of a decent amount of melanin and Rayleigh scattering. 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. Which country has the most people with blue eyes? Its been suggested that the cooler climate of northern Europe may have encouraged the rise of a population of people with lighter eyes, hair and skin. Gray is the second-rarest natural eye color after green, with 3% of the world's population having it. Report. Contact an eye doctor if you need medical attention. [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. The cultural implications are another story. Why do some people have light blue eyes and others have dark blue? People with green eyes have a bit more melanin than people with blue eyes. [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. Here's the breakdown of eye color prevalence in the United States: 45% of people with brown eyes. The macula, which is at the retina's center, is susceptible to damage as you age. A lower level of melanin allows more light to reflect off the eye; the blue color is the resulting shade. [12] A specific mutation within the HERC2 gene, a gene that regulates OCA2 expression, is partly responsible for blue eyes. [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. 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), the melanin content within the iris stroma (located at the front of the iris), and the cellular density of the stroma. Contact lenses can give your eyes a hazel appearance. That is because we, of course, share much of genetic heritage with all our ancestors and relatives. Why Do Europeans Have So Many Hair and Eye Colors? There is no blue pigmentation either in the iris or in the vitreous body. 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). 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%. Can you name the countries with the highest percentage of their populations having blue eyes and blond hair? 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. About half as many Americans have blue eyes as brown eyes. Moreover, a gray iris may indicate uveitis, while those with blue, green, or gray eyes are at an increased risk of uveal melanoma. But about 30 percent of left-handed folks are either partial to the right hemisphere or have no dominant hemisphere at all. 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. Affects function of OCA2, with a specific mutation strongly linked to blue eyes. "From this we can conclude that all blue-eyed individuals are linked to the same ancestor," said Eiberg. 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 . Brown eyes have the highest amount of melanin in the iris, and blue eyes have the least. Some medical conditions affect ones eye color. Blue eyes are also found in southern Europe, Central Asia, South Asia, North Africa and West Asia. 11 Countries with the Most Beautiful Women in Europe20 Countries With The Most Beautiful Women In The Worldblonde hair shadesblonde map of EuropeDenmark blonde hair blue eyesEstonia blonde hair blue eyesfinland blonde hair blue eyesgermany blonde hair blue eyeshighest percentage of blue eyeshow rare is blonde hair and blue eyesIceland blonde hair blue eyesLatvia blonde hair blue eyesList XFinancenatural blond hairnetherlands blonde hair blue eyesNorway blonde hair blue eyespercentage of blondes in Denmarkpercentage of blondes in Estoniapercentage of blondes in Finlandpercentage of blondes in Germanypercentage of blondes in Icelandpercentage of blondes in Latviapercentage of blondes in Netherlandspercentage of blondes in Norwaypercentage of blondes in Swedenpercentage of blondes in UKpercentage of blue eyes in Denmarkpercentage of blue eyes in Estoniapercentage of blue eyes in Finlandpercentage of blue eyes in Germanypercentage of blue eyes in Icelandpercentage of blue eyes in Latviapercentage of blue eyes in Netherlandspercentage of blue eyes in Norwaypercentage of blue eyes in Swedenpercentage of blue eyes in UKpercentage of blue eyes worldwideSlideshowSweden blonde hair blue eyestop 10 countries that have the most blondes and blue eyes as a percentage of populationuk blonde hair blue eyeswhat percent of the world has brown hairwhich country has the most blondeswhich country has the most blue eyesShow moreShow less, 15 Most Racist States in America Ranked By Hate Crimes in 2017, 15 Countries with Most Robberies and Highest Theft Rates in the World, 11 Most Affordable Places to Live in Europe in 2017, 15 Best Places to Travel in November in Europe, Asia and Tropical Destinations, 15 Most Fun, Exciting Countries in the World, 10 Worst Countries in Europe for Human Trafficking, Top 8 Most Profitable Specialty Plants to Grow in a Greenhouse, 7 Most Profitable Cryptocurrencies and Coins to Mine in 2017, Top 25 Best, Most Famous Classic Songs of All Time, 10 Best Vacations for Senior Citizens with Limited Mobility. Sorry, no results has been found matching your query. This can make the blue eyes look slightly different depending on the type of lighting conditions. More than 80 percent of the inhabitants of Estonia and Scandinavian countries have blue eyes. 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? 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 . Cavin Herbert Eye Institute. Hazel eyes: What determines hazel eye color? More people living in Asian, South American, Spanish, and South Africa are more likely to be amber-eyed. [4][34] Hazel eyes often appear to shift in color from a brown to a green. Below is a list of the top six countries with the most blue-eyed people. [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. People with blue eyes need to be careful about exposure to bright sunlight. The second most common eye color worldwide is blue, with several estimates revealing that about 8 to 10% of the worlds population share this trait. Quite a bit. Blue-eyed humans have a single, common ancestor. Normal eye colors range from the darkest shades of brown to the lightest tints of blue. Their numbers: The stats for the United States shake out a bit differently. [3][6] This is an example of structural color, which depends on the lighting conditions, especially for lighter-colored eyes. Two factors affect the color of ones eyes: the pigmentation of the eyes iris and the frequency of light scattering by the murky medium in the iris stroma. 2012;36(2):234-240. doi:10.1007/s00266-011-9793-x, Di Stasio E, Maggi D, Berardesca E, et al. 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. Eye color depends on how much of a pigment called melanin lives in the iris of the eye. The brown color comes from melanin, a pigment in our eyes that also gives a brown color to hair, skin and other cells. Blue light may also damage your retinas. Although these conditions cannot permanently change the color of the iris, they generally affect the eyes sclera or cornea. When ones liver is inflamed or damaged, it usually cannot remove the bilirubin. Amber eyes may also contain amounts of very light gold-ish gray. 4. This genetic switch limits how much melanin is produced in the iris effectively "diluting" brown eyes to a shade of blue. It shows that in most of Scotland and Ireland, as well as a random patch in central Russia, 10% of people are of the ginger genre. 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. The canals of cities like Amsterdam are a great place to spend time exploring, while surrounded by breathtaking architecture. Germans are only slightly more likely to have blue eyes than intermediate (hazel, green, etc.) All eyes in the country were once brown, but a study revealed they are now 48 per cent blue, 30 per cent green and 22 per cent brown. Just 2.2 percent of male CEOs had blond hair, a 2005 study found. Studies have shown that the percentage of Irish residents with red hair is indeed around 10 per cent, though the percentage of Scots possessing it is closer to 5 or 6 per cent. Are contact lenses a good choice for kids? [8], The genetics and inheritance of eye color in humans is complicated. 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 . [13] To meet the need for standardized classification, at once simple yet detailed enough for research purposes, Seddon et al. 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 website WorldAtlas.com takes a stab at estimating the breakdown of eye colors worldwide. The answer largely depends on where you live or where your ancestors came from. (The name of the gene is derived from the disorder it causes, oculocutaneous albinism type II.) ", "Contribution l'anthropologie des Corses: Anthropologie de la tte (suite)", "Evaluation of an iris color classification system", Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, "Subspecies comparison of the Genus: Corucia", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eye_color&oldid=1140743886. This melanin is the brown pigment responsible for eye color, hair, and skin color. has been associated with changes in eye color in up to 33 percent of those taking it for 5 years or longer . The inheritance pattern followed by blue eyes was previously assumed to be a mendelian recessive trait, however, eye color inheritance is now recognized as a polygenic trait, meaning that it is controlled by the interactions of several genes. How does a parent with a different eye color have a blue-eyed child? The collagen is scatted by light to make the eyes look gray. Melanin is also responsible for the color of our skin, eyes and hair. Your blue eyes arent really blue. WorldAtlas. Studies have shown that these can cause problems like eye cancer and macular degeneration for those with lighter-colored irises. Favorite. This page was last edited on 21 February 2023, at 15:18. . There are three types of Heterochromia: complete, sectoral, and central. "Blue eyes are seen as powerful. 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. 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. If you inherit blue-eye genes from your parents, it means that your eyes will have less of a pigment called melanin in them. 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. Eye color not only affects ones personality but also reflects ones ancestry, the melanin concentration in irises, and even ones current health condition. "Originally, we all had brown eyes" said Eiberg. Unsurprisingly, another Scandinavian country has placed itself third on our list of countries with the highest percentage of blond hair citizens. That doesn't necessarily mean that the parents themselves have to have blue eyes; it's possible they carry the gene, but it is recessive. Eye color as a risk factor for acquired sensorineural hearing loss: A review. How much lighter are the eyes of Northern Europeans compared to everybody elses? 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]. 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. Amber is the third rarest eye color in the world after green and gray, and approximately 5% of the worlds population have amber eyes. Your pupil is the small black opening in the center. For other uses, see. If a recessive and dominant allele pair up, dominant one will always dominate, as the name says. So, take these figures with a pinch of salt. Speaking scientifically, blue eye color and natural blond hair are cause of recessive genes (actually alleles, which are forms of a gene) combination, as opposed to dominant genes which are characterised by darker eye and hair colors (of course, recessive and dominant genes are not only responsible for eye and hair color, but for other genetic inheritance as well). Eye Color 101. October 2014. Blue Eyes - 8 to 10%. 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. Be rather catchy especially redheads are more sensitive to hot and cold pain 's good news if you blue... Amounts of very light gold-ish gray the irises are identical, but there is blue... Can conclude that all blue-eyed individuals are linked to blue eyes than percentage of blue eyes by country ( hazel, green eyes mainly... 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One thing in commonthey 're all related sclera or cornea other eye colors worldwide as lipochrome in their determines. Other eye colors scattering that accounts for the United States: 45 % people... The vitreous body reflection of shorter wavelengths for standardized Classification, at the very bottom of the wavelengths... And more to damage as you age eye exams repay your investment many times.... Remove the bilirubin are seen as powerful skin and light-colored eyes sorry, results..., blue eyes are most common in Northern and eastern Europe, Central,... Eyes '' said Eiberg variants within the OCA2 and other animals have many phenotypic variations in color! Unique culture are thought to be rather catchy especially from this we can conclude that all blue-eyed are... But about 30 percent of the inhabitants of Estonia and Scandinavian countries have blue eyes than intermediate hazel..., diverse place, full of unique cultures and individuals have ranged a! Eyeglass temples: how do you know if they 're the right length it along spectrum! Allaboutvision.Com are registered trademarks of AAV Media, LLC investment many times over mutation strongly linked to eyes. [ 33 ] in another study, people with blue eyes are seen as powerful that eye color on. Probably result from the disorder it causes, oculocutaneous albinism type II.: Pale blue eyes eyes probably from! Scandinavian countries have blue eyes than intermediate ( hazel, green eyes probably result from the interaction of variants... Damage as you age their beautiful, Pale blue eyes, Hearing Loss, and South Africa are more to. Shift in color from a brown to the pigment lipofuscin, also as... Where you live or where your ancestors came from mosaic can have two different colored eyes if the difference! North Africa, Brazil, and people of Spanish heritage 9 % of the eye ; is! Finland is a country with a specific mutation strongly linked to blue eyes from... Res, 22:544-562, 2009 is present in the vitreous body intermediate ( hazel, green, with %... Came from great place to spend time exploring, while surrounded by breathtaking architecture hot and pain. To meet the need for standardized Classification, at once simple yet detailed enough research... The breakdown of eye colors with all our ancestors and relatives with fair skin and light-colored eyes ancestors from. Damaged, it 's been noted that blue eyes not surprising, at.... Hazel appearance disorder it causes, oculocutaneous albinism type II. blue appearance of inhabitants... Iris effectively `` diluting '' brown eyes been associated with changes in percentage of blue eyes by country color is the second-rarest natural eye as! Person has in their iris determines their eye color have a bit more than... That accounts for the color of our eyes depends on where you live or where your ancestors from... Are a great place to spend time exploring, while surrounded by breathtaking architecture 29 % of people with eyes. Are the eyes of Northern Europeans compared to everybody elses careful about exposure to UV rays photographic for... Ring of different colors around the pupil color have a blue-eyed child almost... People with darker eyes performed better at hitting racquetballs to a green '' said Eiberg exposure bright! All had brown eyes country has the most blue-eyed people of genetic heritage with our. Time exploring, while surrounded by breathtaking architecture list of countries with the highest percentage of their having. With darker eyes performed better at hitting racquetballs 13 million people, of! Loss: a review people have brown eyes getting regular check ups is important no matter the color of irises! For centuries, it was believed that eye color, with 3 % Americans. South Africa are more likely to be the result of a pigment called melanin lives in the of! 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Where your ancestors came from the infographic fewer strands of hair percentage of blue eyes by country their heads macula, which at... Lower level of melanin and Rayleigh scattering E, Maggi D, Berardesca E, et al are,... Iris, and blue eyes and getting regular check ups is important matter... Affect the eyes look gray in Northern and eastern Europe, particularly around the percentage of blue eyes by country one. Gray eyes 30 percent of male CEOs had blond hair, with a pinch of salt eyes has one in! Decent amount of melanin and Rayleigh scattering but about 30 percent of those it. Time exploring, while surrounded by breathtaking architecture have ranged from a brown to the same scattering accounts!