Red hair is a rare and unique hair colour around the World. Many people wonder which nationality has the most red hair and where this distinctive hair colour is most commonly found. In this post, we’ll explore the origins of red hair and which ethnic groups are most likely to have this striking hair colour.
So which country has the most redheads?
There are two main answers to this question. Whilst Scotland is the country that has the highest concentration of redheads in the World, due to its large population, the USA has the highest population of redheads in the world! That’s between 2-6% of the US population, which is around 6.5 million to 20 million people!
Red hair in the Global Population
Red hair occurs naturally in around 1-2% of the global population. It is the result of a specific genetic mutation that affects the MC1R gene, which is responsible for producing melanin, the pigment that gives our skin, hair, and eyes their colour. This mutation causes a decrease in the production of eumelanin, the pigment that produces brown and black hair, and an increase in the production of pheomelanin, the pigment that produces red and yellow hair.
Red hair in Europe
While red hair is relatively rare across the globe, it is more prevalent in certain ethnic groups than in others. Red hair is predominately centred around the northern and western edges of Europe, and has historical associations with the Celts. Both the ancient Greeks and Romans described the Celts as redheads. The Romans also described Germanic people as redheads, at least those they most frequently encountered in southern and western Germany.
Red hair in Britain
In England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, the percentage of people with red hair varies, but all four countries have a relatively high proportion compared to the global average.
According to a study conducted by BritainsDNA, the highest concentration of red hair in the World can be found in Scotland, where around 13% of the population has red hair, which is around 715,000 people. It is thought that 40% might carry the gene there, making it the country with the highest proportion of redheads in the world. The high prevalence of red hair has also been attributed to the country’s Celtic heritage. Its capital city, Edinburgh, has the honour of being the city with the most ginger people. See the photo of me above in the beautiful City of Edinburgh.
In Ireland, an estimated 10% of the population have red hair, which is around 510,000 people. The prevalence of red hair in Ireland has been attributed to the country’s Celtic and Viking heritage.
In England, it is estimated that between 4-6% of the population has red hair, which is around 2,262,000 – 3,393,000 people . This is at a higher concentration than the global average of 1-2%.
In Wales, the prevalence of red hair is similar to that of England, with an estimated 4-6% of the population having red hair, which is around 128,000 – 192,000 people.
Viking Ancestry of Redheads
Outside of the UK, other countries with a high concentration of red hair include Norway, Sweden, and Finland. In these countries, red hair is often associated with Viking ancestry, and some studies suggest that up to 80% of people in these regions carry the gene for red hair.
Red hair of the Udmurts, Russia
The Udmurts, an Uralic tribe living in the northern Volga basin of Russia, between Kazan and Perm, are the only non-Western Europeans to have a high incidence of red hair (over 10%).
Red hair in isolated communities around the World
However, it’s not only the fringes of Europe that have pockets of red hair.
Afro-Caribbean Redheads
There are Afro-Caribbeans with light skin, freckles and red hair too. It’s not prevalent in hot countries because the amount of sunlight there can lead to burning and cancer in redheads, but the red gene does exist due to exchanges between Europeans and Africans during the formation of the Caribbean.
Redheaded Ship-wrecked Scottish Sailors in Jamaica
Treasure Beach in Jamaica is known for its prevalence of ginger-haired blue and green-eyed locals that use Scottish words like aye. It’s thought shipwrecked Scottish sailors landed on this remote beach and stayed, sharing their MC1R genes with the local population.
Red Hair in Bolivia & New Mexico
Red hair is also relatively common among some indigenous groups, particularly in the Americas. For example, around 6% of indigenous people in Bolivia have red hair, while around 7% of the indigenous population in the U.S. state of New Mexico also has red hair.
Conclusion
Whilst red hair is a relatively rare hair colour globally, it is more prevalent in some ethnic groups than in others. It’s worth noting that these estimates are based on self-reported data, so the actual prevalence of red hair in these countries may be slightly higher or lower than reported. Additionally, the percentage of people with red hair may vary within different regions of these countries, depending on factors such as local ancestry and genetics. Regardless of your ethnic background or hair colour, it’s important to remember that diversity is what makes us unique and beautiful.
And don’t forget to check out other articles in our Ginger Red Hair Facts category.