What percent of the population is color blind?

Color blindness, also known as color vision deficiency, affects a significant portion of the global population. Understanding how common this condition is can help inform accessibility decisions in education, design, and everyday communication. So, what percent of the population is color blind?

Global statistics on color blindness

Approximately 8% of men and 0.5% of women worldwide are color blind. This means:

• Roughly 1 in 12 men have some form of color vision deficiency
• About 1 in 200 women are affected

Given a global population of over 8 billion people, this suggests that over 300 million people in the world are colorblind.

What percent of people in the U.S. are color blind?

In the United States, the numbers are similar:

• About 13 million Americans are colorblind
• This includes 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women

Most cases are inherited and present from birth. The most common type is red-green color blindness, which includes both protan (red-weak) and deutan (green-weak) variations.

Why are men more likely to be color blind?

Color blindness is typically caused by a genetic mutation on the X chromosome. Since men have only one X chromosome, a single mutation leads to color blindness. Women have two X chromosomes, so the healthy one usually compensates for the mutated gene. This explains the significant difference in colorblindness rates between males and females.

Are some populations more affected than others?

Color blindness affects people of all ethnicities, but some differences exist:

• People of Northern European descent have higher rates of red-green color blindness
• Rates tend to be lower in African and Asian populations

Environmental and occupational factors may also play a role in acquired color blindness, though these cases are far less common.

Common implications of color blindness

Being color blind can make daily life more challenging in areas such as:

• Reading color-coded charts or graphs
• Interpreting traffic lights
• Choosing clothing or interior design colors
• Playing certain board or video games

However, most people with color vision deficiency develop strategies to adapt, and technology is making accessibility easier than ever.

Color blindness in education and design

Knowing what percentage of people are color blind helps inform better decisions:

• Designers can choose colorblind-friendly palettes
• Educators can supplement color cues with text or patterns
• Game developers and interface designers can include accessibility settings

Conclusion

So what percentage of the population is color blind? Roughly 8% of men and 0.5% of women worldwide, including about 13 million people in the United States. While it may seem like a minor issue, this condition affects hundreds of millions globally. Awareness and inclusive design can go a long way in improving access and usability for colorblind individuals.

For more statistics and tips on living with color blindness, explore other articles at ColorBlindSmart.com.

Last updated: June 06 2025