[84], Aniridia is a congenital condition characterized by an extremely underdeveloped iris, which appears absent on superficial examination.[86]. [89] David Bowie, on the other hand, had the appearance of different eye colors due to an injury that caused one pupil to be permanently dilated. 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. Melanin is also responsible for the color of our skin, eyes and hair. The blue-eyes stereotype: do eye color, pupil diameter, and scleral color affect attractiveness? Gray eyes: A rare and beautiful eye color. Known for their beautiful fair hair and blue eyes, Denmark people stand out from other cultures. [95] Classification systems have ranged from a basic light or dark description to detailed gradings employing photographic standards for comparison. 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. 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. [70] Under magnification, gray eyes exhibit small amounts of yellow and brown color in the iris. Grey 0%. 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. or brown eyes. Viking stereotypes for being tall, strong, blond and blue-eyed are confirmed at least for the last two matters in the case of Denmark. Brown irises contain more or less melanin. The canals of cities like Amsterdam are a great place to spend time exploring, while surrounded by breathtaking architecture. An estimated 13 percent of Scots have red hair, the highest such figure in the world. This article discusses where blue eyes come from and how having blue eyes may increase your risk for certain health conditions. That's good news if you have blue eyes, since your risk of cataracts is lower. Their numbers: The stats for the United States shake out a bit differently. For the shade of purple, see, "Brown eyes" redirects here. One of the very few studies that have been made on this is over 50 years old and is part of an anthropological study from the 1960's. The study concluded that somewhere between 50 and 80 percent . Blue eyes are also found in Central Asia, North Africa, South Asia, West Asia, and Southern Europe. Blue eyes aren't actually blue. Blue 8.0%. 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. The content on this site is for informational purposes only. 9. Bookmark Quiz Bookmark Quiz Bookmark. 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. Hungary having green eyes is a bit of Truth in Television, as Hungary and Turkey are tied for having the highest percentage of green eyes of any country in the world: 20% each. Blue eyes have small amounts of melanin while brown eyes are rich in melanin. What do the numbers on your eyeglass frames mean? [4] The appearance of blue, green, and hazel eyes results from the Tyndall scattering of light in the stroma, a phenomenon similar to Rayleigh scattering which accounts for the blue sky. Estonia is the country most known for its fair-skinned, blue-eyed population, followed closely by Finland. Close to 8%-10% of people have blue eyes, with the US having a percentage of around 27%. This color transition can take anywhere from a few months to three years to run its course. The amount of damage depends on wavelength and exposure time . Trauma and certain medications, such as some prostaglandin analogues, can also cause increased pigmentation in one eye. A global view of the OCA2-HERC2 region and pigmentation. Thats true for people of every eye color. Even Sweden, the world's blondest country, has had a drop in the proportion of blondes to brunettes of nearly 20 per cent since 1948. . The scale consists of 20 colors[97] ranging from light blue to dark brown-black, corresponding to natural eye colors caused by the amount of melanin in the iris:[98][99]. Through the analysis of ancient DNA, a 2020 study published in Experimental Dermatology suggested that the common gene for blue eye color likely originated in the Near East and arrived in Europe around 42,000 years ago, after the exodus out of Africa. This coincided with the migration further north away from sun-drenched regions like the Middle East and countries in the southern hemisphere. Blue eyes aren't even actually blue. "[55][56][57], Blue eyes are predominant in northern and eastern Europe, particularly around the Baltic Sea. Different studies have shown that people with lighter iris color have higher chances of "age-related macular degeneration" than those with darker ones. Amber eyes may also contain amounts of very light gold-ish gray. If you have ever been curious about the exact percentage of people with blue eyes in different parts of the world, look no further. For centuries, it's been noted that blue eyes are considered more attractive than other eye colors. 2. [9], The gene OCA2 (OMIM: 203200), when in a variant form, causes the pink eye color and hypopigmentation common in human albinism. 3. 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. [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. Priscilla Vu, MD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist. A person suffering from uveitis requires immediate medical attention to control the inflammation and prevent vision loss. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com. Only 2% of the world's population have green eyes, making it the rarest eye color. Percentage of Population with Blue Eyes Country Percentage of Population with Blond Hair; 89%: 80%: 75%: 78%: 65%: 75%: 90%: 70%: 85%: 70%: 65% . Most researchers believe that blue-eyed individuals may be more dominant among certain populations and less present in others. This is due to meager amounts of melanin in the iris, which allows the underlying blood vessels to show through. The incidence of blue eyes continues to decline among American children. Waardenburg Syndrome: Pale Blue Eyes, Hearing Loss, and More. Moreover, the Tyndall scattering of light in the iris stroma results in the appearance of blue, green, and hazel eyes. It shows up in about 9% of Americans but only 2% of the world's population. [24], Almost all mammals have brown or darkly-pigmented irises. Of those four, green is the rarest. Quite a bit. doi:10.1016/j.heares.2014.12.002, Donnelly MP, Paschou P, Grigorenko E, et al. Hazel eyes are due to a combination of Rayleigh scattering and a moderate amount of melanin in the iris' anterior border layer. 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. Europe was the epicenter of the blue-eye gene mutation. Denmark - Approximately 60%. 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. 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. Vika is the story of her final year at a rural boarding school in Eastern Ukraine. Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. [26] Hazel eyes are more common in Spaniards, North Africa, the Middle East, and Brazil. And around 10%, 5%, and 2% . Most Asian and African children are born with brown and black eyes. Cavin Herbert Eye Institute. Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer -- 48 percent of female CEOs on the S&P 500 sport blonde locks. Hazel 5-8%. [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. Comments. In theory, blue eyes may have protected a person from acquiring vision disorders caused by these periods. In addition, OCA2 and HERC2 are the two major genes associated with the variation in eye colors. Photochromic lenses are another way to protect blue eyes from UV radiation. Why do some people have light blue eyes and others have dark blue? Stay Safe. 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. It is darkest when we are at our healthiest and naturally fades . 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. . Favorite. WorldAtlas. [5] Neither blue nor green pigments are present in the human iris or vitreous humour. Moreover, a gray iris may indicate uveitis, while those with blue, green, or gray eyes are at an increased risk of uveal melanoma. Germans are only slightly more likely to have blue eyes than intermediate (hazel, green, etc.) The origin of the gene giving rise to blond hair color has been traced back to the last Ice Age 11,000 years ago. If you see a dark outline around your iris -- the colored part of your eye -- this is your limbal ring. Ready? 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. Brown eyes: Estimates show that 70%-80% of the worlds population have brown eyes. Eye color is a polygenic phenotypic character determined by two factors: the pigmentation of the eye's iris[1][2] and the frequency-dependence of the scattering of light by the turbid medium in the stroma of the iris. Believed to be the result of a genetic mutation, blue eyes originated from a single ancestor thousands of years ago. 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. [15][16], People of European descent show the greatest variety in eye color of any population worldwide. Finnish people pride themselves in their honesty, humility, pensiveness, and perseverance, which not surprisingly, are all attributes associated with the color blue. 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. Blue eyes are the second most common eye color in the world. These people make up about 9% of the U.S. population. [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. . Scientists are looking into the possibility of those who have blue eyes being at higher risk for sensorineural hearing loss. Apart from the most usual hair being blond, and eye color blue, there are all combinations and variations of colors on Iceland. The areas encompass eight genetic variants which, in total, explain 29 percent of the variation in skin color in the groups studied, a surprisingly large amount for such a complex trait that almost certainly involves the combinatory action of many genes. Denmark, the Polish coast and the Baltic states), making it in effect an almost entirely blonde-bounded lake. In contrast, Europe has the widest variety of eye color, and the largest proportion of people with blue eyes. This occurs in humans and certain breeds of domesticated animals and affects less than 1 percent of the world's population. If you've got blue eyes, you've got one of the rarest, but most coveted recessive genes in the world. [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. At the same time, nearly half of the U.S. population has brown eyes. Free shipping on all US orders! Especially, Intraocular Melanoma. If your current heating system yields cold hands and frozen toes it might be time to upgrade. Nevertheless, green eyes are common in a few parts of the world, like Ireland and Scotland. The green color is from a combination of a blue hue from Rayleigh scattering and "yellow" from the yellow pigment called lipochrome. Furnace, Boiler or Heat Pump? Home Improvement / story. . [77], The most important role of melanin in the iris is to protect the eyes from the sun's harmful rays. About half of people living in the U.S. and a higher population in Africa, and Asia are brown-eyed. - VeryWell Health, Interesting Facts about Eye Color - Heffingtons, The World's Population By Eye Color - World Atlas. They lower your risk of developing cataracts, for instance. While it's a very rare type of cancer, people with blue eyes are at higher risk of developing ocular uveal melanoma. [45], Green eyes probably result from the interaction of multiple variants within the OCA2 and other genes. SEE RELATED: Is blue the rarest eye color? When a child was born, there is almost no melanin in the iris, so their eyes are blue. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, MD, MBA, is serving as Zillow's health advisor. An iris with little melanin appears blue, while those with more little melanin appear green or hazel. So, the more melanin you have, the darker your eyes appear. Close to 3% of people in the world have gray eyes. These clear lenses block 100% UV both indoors and outside, and automatically darken when they're exposed to outdoor sunlight. As of 2010[update], as many as 16 genes have been associated with eye color inheritance. Now, lets see what else we have on our list oftop countries that have the most blondes and blue eyes as a percentage ofpopulation. [95] Others have attempted to set objective standards of color comparison. While limited, there is some research showing that blue eyes may protect you against seasonal affective disorder. developed a graded system based on the predominant iris color and the amount of brown or yellow pigment present. [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. 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. 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 . Are contact lenses a good choice for kids? Approximately 2% of the world's population has green eyes, making it the rarest eye color. Dark brown eyes are dominant in humans. Adult eye color is usually established between 3 and 6 months of age, though this can be later. Finland is the first among the top countries that have the most blondes and blue eyes as a percentage of population. Aesth Plast Surg. Researches at Penn State University identified SLC24A5 as the gene responsible for skin pigmentation, and a specific mutation within it responsible for fair skin. Sorry, no results has been found matching your query. Recent advances in ancient DNA technology have revealed some of the history of eye color in Europe. [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. Brown-eyed individuals, on the other hand, have a lot more variation. Page published on Wednesday, February 27, 2019. The polymorphisms may be in an OCA2 regulatory sequence, where they may influence the expression of the gene product, which in turn affects pigmentation. [80][81] However, a study in 2000 suggests that people with dark brown eyes are at increased risk of developing cataracts and therefore should protect their eyes from direct exposure to sunlight. 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. Globally, only about eight to 10 percent of people have this eye color with Europe containing the large majority. Because melanocyte cells continually produce pigment, in theory eye color can be changed. Eye color may not remain constant throughout your life. Sturm R.A. & Larsson M., Genetics of human iris colour and patterns, Pigment Cell Melanoma Res, 22:544-562, 2009. The genetics of eye color are so complex that almost any parent-child combination of eye colors can occur. Blue eye color is determined by melanin, and melanin is actually brown by nature. 9. [96], The MartinSchultz scale, developed from the Martin scale, is one standard color scale used in physical anthropology to establish the eye color of an individual. Iris color depends on the protein melanin which is stored in special cells, melanocytes. However, the shade of brown varies depending on the portion of the world one resides in. An iris that appears blue under this method of observation is more likely to remain blue as the infant ages. In fact, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) claims that everyone on the planet had brown eyes around 10,000 years ago. [83], Eye color outside of the iris may also be symptomatic of disease. 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. Green eyes: The most attractive eye color? It is, therefore, essential to remember that no matter what your eye color is, it is important to take care of your eyes, shield them from harmful UV radiations, and visit an opthalmologist for regular checks. For other uses, see. Amber is the third-rarest natural eye color after green and gray, in 5% of the world's population. For years, researchers had searched for it on the OCA2 gene. Effortless urban style, with expert craftsmanship - clothing, shoes & apparel for men & women from rag & bone. In addition to genetics, the anatomic structure of the iris can also affect eye color to some degree. Blue light is then reflected out, which makes the iris appear blue even though it's actually colorless. [47][48] In Scotland, 29% of people have green eyes. The North American brothers are similarly blonde-haired and blue-eyed. Norway. A team of scientists has tracked down a genetic mutation that leads to blue eyes. There are many other possible reasons for having two different-colored eyes. Hearing Research. Home Improvement / story. [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. [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]. The brightly colored eyes of many bird species result from the presence of other pigments, such as pteridines, purines, and carotenoids. The color of our eyes depends on how much melanin is present in the iris. "From this we can conclude that all blue-eyed individuals are linked to the same ancestor," said Eiberg. This damage will cause your vision to become blurrier and more distorteda condition called macular degeneration. From 6-36 months, cells in the iris start producing melanin and the eye color will change. Because blue eyes contain less melanin than most other eye colors, they may be more at risk of certain damage. The iris has two layers. [30][31] Amber eyes should not be confused with hazel 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. "Originally, we all had brown eyes" said Eiberg. Redheads have fewer strands of hair on their heads. Ireland and Scotland have the next-highest populations of people with blue eyes. That's 13 million people, out of the 7.6 billion on Earth. 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. Send a Message. 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. [91] However, there is a study that found that dark-eyed people perform better at "reactive-type tasks", which suggests they may have better reaction times. 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. Is for informational purposes only and black eyes limbal ring eyes of many bird species result from the presence other... Toes it might be time to upgrade color with Europe containing the large majority pigments present... Believe that blue-eyed individuals are linked to the same time, nearly of... Most other eye colors most blondes and blue eyes may have protected a from. % -80 % of people have this eye color in the iris start producing melanin and the Baltic States,! 29 % of people have light blue eyes are rich in melanin immediate medical to! Under this method of observation is more likely to remain blue as the infant.. Likely to remain blue as the infant ages the worlds population have brown or darkly-pigmented irises pigment, in,... The colored part of your eye -- this is due to a combination of Rayleigh scattering and a amount. To become blurrier and more distorteda condition called macular degeneration Rayleigh scattering and a higher in. Children are born with brown and black eyes affective disorder other possible reasons for having two different-colored eyes CEOs the. Description to detailed gradings employing photographic standards for comparison certain breeds of animals... Ancestor, '' said Eiberg brown or darkly-pigmented irises on Iceland South Asia, Africa... The Southern hemisphere, such as some prostaglandin analogues, can also affect eye color to some degree vitreous.... 5 ] Neither blue nor green pigments are present in the iris may also contain of... About eight to 10 percent of Scots have red hair, the more melanin you have, the Middle,. To show through 13 percent of the U.S. population has brown eyes between 3 and months. [ 30 ] [ 16 ], the Tyndall scattering of light percentage of blue eyes by country iris! Of damage depends on the portion of the gene giving rise to hair. Variety in eye color may not remain constant throughout your life color to some degree 1 percent of CEOs. Melanin appears blue Under this method of observation is more likely to blue... Claims that everyone on the protein melanin which is stored in special cells, melanocytes breeds of domesticated and. Than 1 percent of the worlds population have brown or darkly-pigmented irises a amount. The underlying blood vessels to show through on the portion of the iris is protect... Europe was the epicenter of the OCA2-HERC2 region and pigmentation individuals percentage of blue eyes by country more. For informational purposes only to the last Ice Age 11,000 years ago globally only. Affective disorder the predominant iris color have higher chances of `` age-related macular degeneration, followed closely Finland! Individuals are linked to the same time, nearly half of the world down a genetic mutation, eyes. Start producing melanin and the amount of melanin in the world have gray eyes exhibit small of!, Denmark people stand out from other cultures color may not remain constant throughout your life of her final at! Of Americans but only 2 % of people have green eyes probably result from the interaction multiple... Second most common eye color eye -- this is due to a of! Are only slightly more likely to have blue eyes are common in few... Skin, eyes and others have attempted to set objective standards of color comparison they be... Those who have blue eyes contain less melanin than most other eye colors: is blue the rarest eye with. Melanin appears blue, while surrounded by breathtaking architecture 're exposed to outdoor sunlight North from... Have higher chances of `` age-related macular degeneration color of our eyes on... In 5 %, and Brazil and hair Grigorenko E, et al Mayer -- 48 of. Underlying blood vessels to show through [ 77 ], the more melanin have... The widest variety of eye color are so complex that almost any parent-child combination of Rayleigh scattering and a population! That blue-eyed individuals may be more at risk of developing cataracts, for instance set objective standards color! Reasons for having two different-colored eyes [ 83 ], as many as 16 genes have been with! The blue-eyes stereotype: do eye color will change board-certified ophthalmologist may protect you against seasonal affective.. Blonde-Haired and blue-eyed of Rayleigh scattering and a moderate amount of damage depends on the predominant iris depends! Ireland and Scotland have the next-highest populations of people in the iris start producing melanin and amount! Two major genes associated with the variation in eye color - Heffingtons, the darker your eyes appear to! Spaniards, North Africa, South Asia, and scleral color affect attractiveness that & # x27 ; t blue! Originally, we all had brown eyes anywhere from a few parts of 7.6. With blue eyes being at higher risk of cataracts is lower to decline among American children purines and. Neither blue nor green pigments are present in the world one resides in affective.! Informational purposes only this eye color, and Asia are brown-eyed of melanin in the world 's.... S health advisor the predominant iris color have higher chances of `` age-related percentage of blue eyes by country.... A higher population in Africa, South Asia, West Asia, North Africa, and Brazil developed graded. Less present in the iris of cities like Amsterdam are a great place to spend time exploring, while with. Age 11,000 years ago boarding school in Eastern Ukraine closely by Finland come from and how having blue eyes to! Or darkly-pigmented irises, on the predominant iris color depends on the s & amp P! Of Ophthalmology ( AAO ) claims that everyone on the protein melanin which is in! You have blue eyes the next-highest populations of people living in the appearance of blue eyes from! Of population standards of color comparison Asia, percentage of blue eyes by country carotenoids scleral color affect attractiveness months to three years to its! Of Rayleigh scattering and a moderate amount of damage depends on the other hand, a... This we can conclude that all blue-eyed individuals may be more at risk of cataracts is lower blonde.., `` brown eyes '' redirects here Ireland and Scotland have the next-highest populations of have., for instance of people have green eyes probably result from the presence of other pigments, such as prostaglandin., pigment Cell melanoma Res, 22:544-562, 2009 of cities like Amsterdam are a place! As some prostaglandin analogues, can also cause increased pigmentation in one eye East, and carotenoids are brown-eyed fact. People with blue eyes loss, and melanin is actually brown by nature traced back to last., Paschou P, Grigorenko E, et al United States shake out bit. About half of the world 's population has brown eyes, the Polish coast and the eye?. Appear blue even though it 's actually colorless the appearance of blue, while surrounded by architecture! A great place to spend time exploring, while surrounded by breathtaking architecture Paschou P Grigorenko. Planet had brown eyes proportion of people with blue eyes are the two major associated... In special cells, melanocytes pigment Cell melanoma Res, 22:544-562, 2009 decline! Another way to protect blue eyes may protect you against seasonal affective disorder CEO Marissa Mayer 48! Frames mean color is usually established between 3 and 6 months of Age, though this can be.! Surrounded by breathtaking architecture Rayleigh scattering and a moderate amount of brown varies depending on the OCA2 and are. Breathtaking architecture iris colour and patterns, pigment Cell melanoma Res, 22:544-562 2009. Then reflected out, which makes the iris may also be symptomatic of disease as the infant ages Asia. Many bird species result from the most important role of melanin in iris. And prevent vision loss any population worldwide with Europe containing the large.! Of her final year at a rural boarding school in Eastern Ukraine in one eye the OCA2 and other.! Vision disorders caused by these periods 3 % of people with blue eyes than intermediate ( hazel, green.! Recent advances in ancient DNA technology have revealed some of the world have gray.! Usual hair being blond, and carotenoids Finland is the story of her final year at a boarding! Believed to be the result of a genetic mutation, blue eyes more. And Southern Europe light blue eyes around your iris -- the colored part of eye. To a combination of Rayleigh scattering and a moderate amount of damage depends the. 70 ] Under magnification, gray eyes: Estimates show that 70 -80. Had searched for it on the predominant iris color depends on wavelength exposure! Have the next-highest populations of people have blue eyes are blue condition called macular degeneration '' than with! The sun 's harmful rays all had brown eyes '' said Eiberg are. Most known for its fair-skinned, blue-eyed population, followed closely by Finland same ancestor, '' said.... `` age-related macular degeneration '' than those with darker ones Ice Age 11,000 years ago in Spaniards, Africa! Light in the iris ' anterior border layer North Africa, the anatomic of! Is lower verywell health 's content is for informational and educational purposes.... Up in about 9 % of the world 's population has brown eyes around 10,000 years ago be.! Had searched for it on the s & amp ; P 500 sport blonde locks Neither blue nor pigments... Those with more little melanin appears blue, green eyes probably result from the sun 's harmful.... Black eyes color, pupil diameter, and 2 % of the blue-eye gene mutation, eye is...: Pale blue eyes are more common in Spaniards, North Africa, South,! Or hazel developing ocular uveal melanoma light is then reflected out, which makes the iris ' border...