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Brown eyes are the most common eye colour globally, and this is also true in Australia. In fact, brown eyes are the most common in countries with hotter climates throughout Asia and Africa. The colour of the eyes depends on how much melanin they contain. Melanin is a brown pigment that gives skin and eyes their colour. Blue eyes have the least amount of melanin and reflect the most light. In Australia, blue eyes are also considered the most attractive eye colour for women.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Most popular eye color globally | Brown |
| Eye color in Australia with the highest male preference (2019) | Blue |
| Eye color with the least male preference (2019) | Gray |
| Cause of eye color | Melanin |
| Iris color with the highest amount of melanin | Brown |
| Iris color with the least amount of melanin | Blue |
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What You'll Learn
Brown eyes are the most common worldwide
Brown eyes are the most common eye colour worldwide, with over 50% of the world's population having brown eyes. This is due to the high amount of melanin in the iris, which is a pigment that gives skin and eyes their colour. The more melanin in the eyes, the darker they are. Brown eyes can range from light reddish-yellow to dark brownish-black. Melanin also protects the eyes from sun damage, which may explain why brown eyes are more common in hotter climates throughout Asia and Africa.
The prevalence of brown eyes can also be attributed to genetics. Eye colour is determined by a complex mix of genetics, with as many as 16 genes influencing the amount of melanin in the iris. It is believed that brown eyes were the only eye colour up until about 10,000 years ago, when a common ancestor experienced a gene change that led to reduced melanin production in the eyes of their descendants.
While brown eyes are dominant outside of Europe, there is extensive variation within the brown colour. Researchers continue to learn more about eye colour, including the wide range of iris hues and their potential health risks.
In contrast to brown eyes, green eyes are one of the rarest eye colours worldwide, with only about 2% of the world's population having green eyes. Blue eyes, the second most common eye colour, have the least amount of melanin and reflect the most light. Hazel eyes have less melanin than brown eyes but more than green eyes, and can appear different under various lighting conditions.
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Blue eyes have the least amount of melanin
Eye colour is determined by a complex mix of genetics. The coloured part of the eye, the iris, gets its colour from melanin, the same pigment that determines skin colour. Different eye colours are the result of different amounts of melanin. Brown eyes, for instance, have a lot of melanin, so they absorb light and appear dark. Hazel eyes have less melanin than brown eyes, and green eyes have even less. Blue eyes have the least amount of melanin.
Blue eyes get their distinctive colour from the way in which light scatters when it hits the iris, allowing more blue light to be reflected back out. This scattering effect is similar to the way the sky appears blue. Blue eyes are the result of a mutation that occurred between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago in northern Europe. This mutation "turns off" the iris's ability to produce melanin.
While brown eyes are the most common eye colour globally, blue eyes are also very common. More than 50% of people worldwide have brown eyes, but blue eyes are not far behind. In a 2014 survey of over 2,000 people in the United States, blue eyes were found to be the second most common eye colour. Blue eyes are also considered attractive by many people. In a 2019 survey, 20% of Australian respondents stated that they preferred blue eyes for women.
Blue eyes also come with some unique advantages. Due to their lower melanin content, blue eyes can tolerate longer periods of lower light. Blue eyes also appear to have a lower risk of developing cataracts than brown eyes and may be less susceptible to seasonal depression and fatigue. However, blue eyes are more sensitive to bright light and may be at a higher risk for certain eye disorders and other health issues.
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Eye colour is largely genetic
Eye colour is largely determined by genetics. The pigmentation of the eye's iris, or the coloured part of the eye, is influenced by a complex mix of genetics. The iris helps control how much light can enter the eye. The colour of the iris ranges from very light blue to dark brown, with brown being the most common eye colour worldwide.
The colour of the iris depends on the concentration of melanin in the iris pigment epithelium and the melanin content within the iris stroma, as well as the cellular density of the stroma. Melanin is a pigment that determines skin colour. Different eye colours are the result of different amounts of melanin. Brown eyes have a lot of melanin, so they absorb light and appear dark. Hazel eyes have less melanin than brown eyes, while blue eyes have the least amount of melanin and reflect the most light.
The inheritance of eye colour is complex, with multiple genes involved. As of 2010, 16 genes have been associated with eye colour inheritance, including OCA2 and HERC2. The OCA2 gene is believed to be responsible for blue eyes, which are predominant in northern and eastern Europe. The HERC2 gene interacts with the OCA2 gene, and a mutation in this gene can reduce melanin production, resulting in lighter-coloured eyes. Several other genes also play a role in determining eye colour, such as ASIP, IRF4, and SLC24A4. These genes likely work together to produce a range of eye colours in different individuals.
While a child's eye colour can often be predicted by the eye colours of their parents and other relatives, genetic variations can sometimes lead to unexpected results. For example, it is uncommon but possible for parents with blue eyes to have a child with brown eyes. Additionally, certain medical conditions and disorders, such as ocular albinism, can affect eye colour and cause very light-coloured eyes.
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Melanin is a brown pigment that determines eye colour
Eye colour is determined by a combination of genetics and pigmentation. Melanin is a brown pigment that determines eye colour, among other things. Melanin is a pigment that occurs in virtually everyone's body, and it is responsible for the colour of the skin and the eyes. The more melanin a person has in their skin, the darker their complexion. The same goes for the eyes; the more melanin present in the iris, the darker the eye colour. Brown eyes, for example, have a lot of melanin, so they absorb light and appear dark. Conversely, blue eyes have very little melanin and reflect the most light.
The iris, the coloured part of the eye, is made up of two layers. The front layer is called the stroma, and the back layer is the iris pigment epithelium. The iris pigment epithelium contains melanin in virtually everyone, except for people with conditions like albinism. The stroma, on the other hand, contains varying amounts of melanin, which determines the colour of the eyes. People with brown eyes have a large amount of melanin in the stroma, while people with blue eyes have much less of this pigment. Hazel eyes have less melanin than brown eyes but more than green eyes. Green eyes are a result of a combination of both types of melanin in low enough levels to create a light-scattering effect.
The amount of melanin in the stroma is determined by genetics. Genes such as OCA2 and HERC2 play a crucial role in the amount and quality of melanin present in the iris. Certain variations in the OCA2 gene can reduce the amount of melanin in the stroma, leading to blue eyes instead of brown. Similarly, polymorphisms in the HERC2 gene can reduce the expression of the OCA2 gene, resulting in less melanin and lighter-coloured eyes.
It is worth noting that eye colour can vary throughout life. Babies' eyes may change colour before their first birthday, and some people's eyes continue to change colour later in life. Additionally, certain medical conditions or medications can also affect eye colour. For example, people with albinism have little to no melanin in their eyes, resulting in very pale blue, grey, pink, or red eyes.
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Green eyes are one of the rarest eye colours
The rarity of green eyes is influenced by intricate genetic interactions and the mixing of human populations. The development of green eyes is impacted by complex genetic factors, geographical variations, and population-specific differences. Green eyes typically result from a combination of moderate melanin levels and the scattering of light in the iris.
Melanin is the substance responsible for pigmentation in the eyes, skin, and hair. Brown eyes have high melanin levels and absorb light, making them appear dark. Hazel eyes have less melanin than brown eyes, while blue eyes have the least melanin content, reflecting the most light. Green eyes have moderate melanin levels, resulting in their distinctive colour.
While eye colour is primarily determined by genetics, it can also change throughout life due to melanin development. Typically, babies are born with lighter eye colours like blue or grey because melanin production in the iris gradually increases over time. As individuals grow older, usually between six months and three years of age, the iris produces more melanin, potentially causing the eyes to darken to hazel, brown, or even a deeper shade of green.
In rare cases, certain medical conditions can affect eye colour. For example, iridoschisis is a condition where the layers of the iris separate, sometimes leading to a change in colour, including a lightening of green eyes. Heterochromia is another condition where each eye has a different colour, which can be present from birth or develop later in life.
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Frequently asked questions
Brown is the most common eye colour worldwide, including in Australia.
Eye colour is determined by the amount of melanin in the iris. Brown eyes have the highest amount of melanin, while blue eyes have the least.
While there are no specific statistics for Australia, blue eyes are the second most common eye colour worldwide. A 2019 survey found that 20% of Australian respondents preferred blue eyes on women.
Apart from brown and blue, hazel, green, and grey eyes are also common.
