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Green is one of the rarest eye colors in the world. It is estimated that only about 2% of the global population has naturally green eyes. This means that out of every 100 people you meet, only two are likely to have this distinct eye color. While it is rare globally, the percentage can be much higher in specific regions, particularly in parts of Europe.
read more about green eye ...To understand how rare green eyes are, it helps to compare them to other colors. Brown is the most common, found in 70% to 79% of people. Blue is second, with about 8% to 10%. Hazel and Amber are both around 5%. Green sits at just 2%, making it the rarest of the standard eye colors. Gray and Violet are even rarer, often occurring in less than 1% of the population.
Green eyes are not actually green. They do not contain a green pigment. Instead, the color is an optical illusion caused by two factors. First, the iris contains a low level of brown melanin and a higher level of a yellowish pigment called lipochrome (pheomelanin). Second, a physical effect called Rayleigh scattering scatters light in the clear layer of the iris, creating a blue hue. The yellow pigment mixes with the blue scattering to create the perception of green.
While rare worldwide, green eyes are surprisingly common in certain populations. They are most frequently found in Northern, Central, and Western Europe. For example, in Ireland and Scotland, estimates suggest that over 80% of the population has blue or green eyes. High percentages are also found in the Netherlands, Iceland, and Germany. In contrast, green eyes are extremely rare in Africa and East Asia.
Technically, all blue and green eye colors originated from a genetic mutation that occurred thousands of years ago. This mutation reduced the ability of the iris to produce melanin. Without this mutation, all humans would have brown eyes. So, having green eyes is the result of a specific genetic variant passed down through generations.
No, the pigment in your eyes does not change with your mood. However, because green eyes rely on light scattering (Rayleigh scattering), the perceived color can shift based on the lighting in the room or the color of your clothing.
Yes. Because green eyes have less protective melanin than brown eyes, they let in more light. This can make people with green eyes more sensitive to bright sunlight (photophobia), so wearing UV-blocking sunglasses is very important.
Yes. Genetics is complex. If both brown-eyed parents carry the recessive gene variants for lighter eyes, they can pass them on to their child, resulting in blue or green eyes.
Your eye color is permanent. If you notice that one or both of your eyes are actually changing color, specifically turning green or brown later in life, you should see an eye doctor. This can be a sign of a condition like Fuch's heterochromic iridocyclitis or pigmentary glaucoma.