Author: Madison Rivera 

Eye color is a striking facial feature that can range from dark brown to light blue, green, or gray. Some eye colors are common worldwide while others are very rare. Eye color is determined primarily by your genetics and the types and amounts of melanin (pigment) you have in your eyes. 

Read on to explore the most common and rarest eye colors and the science behind them and learn why some color combinations are so extraordinary.  

Most Common and Rarest Eye Colors

The most common eye color in the world is brown. Approximately 70% to 79% of people worldwide have brown eyes.  

Brown eyes contain high levels of melanin, the pigment that gives your eyes, hair, and skin their color. This gives these dark eyes a rich, deep look. 

What Is the Rarest Eye Color?

On the other end of the spectrum, the rarest eye color that is naturally occurring is green. It is estimated that only 2% of people in the world have green eyes. The scarcity of green eyes is due to a combination of moderate melanin levels and the way light scatters in the iris. This unique interplay creates the characteristic green appearance. 

Other less common eye colors include: 

  • Blue eyes – About 9% of people have blue eyes globally. Blue (and gray) eyes are lighter in color because they have little to no pigment (melanin) in the front layer of the iris. Darker eye colors have more melanin in both the front and back layers of the iris. 
  • Hazel eyes – Found in approximately 5% of the world’s population, hazel eyes are usually a blend of brown, green, and gold tones, creating a multi-dimensional look. 
  • Amber eyes – With a warm golden hue, amber eyes are sometimes confused with hazel but lack green undertones. 
  • Gray eyes – Extremely rare, gray eyes occur due to very low melanin levels and the presence of collagen fibers in the iris that scatter light differently. 

Additionally, certain unique conditions like heterochromia (different-colored eyes) can create exceptionally unique appearances. 

What Determines Eye Color?

Eye color is influenced by dozens of genes that affect how melanin is produced, moved, and stored in the body. The level of melanin in the iris's front layer determines eye color. 

Here are the main factors that determine eye color: 

  • Melanin levels – More melanin results in darker eyes (brown), while less melanin creates lighter-colored eyes (blue or gray). 
  • Genetic inheritance – While parental eye colors can provide clues to their children’s eye colors, they are not definitive predictors due to the complex genetics at play. 

Though eye color is mostly fixed by early childhood, certain health conditions and environmental factors may lead to slight changes.  

Additionally, some eye colors have been connected to increased risk of certain health conditions. For example, people with brown eyes might be more prone to cataracts, while those with blue eyes may be more sensitive to bright light (photophobia). 

Rarest Hair and Eye Color Combo

While rare eye colors alone are fascinating, combining them with certain hair colors can create even more unique looks. 

Like eye color, hair color depends on the types and amounts of melanin you have. People with more eumelanin have black or brown hair, while those with more pheomelanin have red hair. 

Red hair is rare because it results from specific changes in the MC1R gene that limit eumelanin production while increasing pheomelanin. People with one altered copy of this gene may have strawberry blond or auburn hair, while those with two altered copies usually have bright red hair. Since these genetic changes are uncommon, red hair is the rarest natural hair color. 

Because of both of their rarities, having both red hair and green eyes makes for a unique appearance. 

Celebrating the Beauty of Unique Eye Colors 

Eye color diversity around the world shows the complex nature of human genetics. While brown eyes dominate, rare colors like green, amber, and gray continue to appear and intrigue. Even rarer are specific hair and eye color combinations. Knowing the basic science behind your eyes’ color can help you appreciate their beauty. 

Your eyes are unique, no matter how rare or common their color. They define your look. If you’re searching for reading glasses that complement your specific eye color, Readers.com has a wide range of styles designed to highlight your natural features. 

 

SOURCES: 

  1. Is eye color determined by genetics? MedlinePlus [Internet]. July 2022. 
  2. Eye colors. Cleveland Clinic. March 2024. 
  3. Most common eye color. All About Vision. March 2021.* 
  4. What is the rarest eye color? Eyebuydirect. April 2023.* 
  5. Eye colors: What is the rarest, the most common and why eyes are different colors. Glasses.com. April 2023.* 
  6. What is the rarest eye color? All About Vision. September 2020.* 
  7. What are the rarest coloured eyes? Glasses Direct. August 2023.* 
  8. Is hair color determined by genetics? MedlinePlus [Internet]. July 2022. 

The sources listed here have been provided for informational purposes only. The citation of a particular source does not constitute an endorsement or approval of EssilorLuxottica products, services, or opinions by such source. 

 

*Like Readers.com, All About Vision, Eyebuydirect, Glasses.com, Glasses Direct, and AAV Media, LLC are affiliates of EssilorLuxottica. 

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