Which eye colour occurs the most?

• Brown eyes: More than 55% of the world’s population have brown eyes, predominantly located in Africa and Asia. For some, the dark brown colour can be so dark it appears black (contains an abundance of melanin).

• Blue eyes: An estimated 8% of the world’s population have blue eyes, this is more frequently found in populations in northern Europe (near the Baltic Sea).

• Hazel eyes: Although similar to brown eyes, this lighter shade has hints of green-yellow tints. The multi-coloured appearance is due to a higher concentration of pigment around the border of the iris which can appear both green and copper depending on the light. An estimated 5 – 8% of the world’s population are hazel-eyed.