What Percentage of Men Are Colorblind?

Color blindness, or color vision deficiency, affects a significant portion of the male population. But just how many men are color blind, and why is it so much more common in men than in women?

In my family, color blindness affects me, my brother, and my nephew, but not my sister. Let’s learn how this works.

How Common Is Color Blindness in Men?

Across the globe, about 8% of men have some form of color blindness. In contrast, only about 0.5% of women are affected. That means men are roughly 16 times more likely to be colorblind than women.

In the United States, this translates to over 13 million men. That’s roughly 1 in 12 males who live with some form of red-green color deficiency, the most common type.

Why Color Blindness Is More Common in Males

The reason color blindness occurs more frequently in men lies in genetics. The genes responsible for the most common forms of color blindness are located on the X chromosome.

• Males have one X and one Y chromosome.
• Females have two X chromosomes.

If a male inherits a faulty X chromosome, he doesn’t have another X to compensate. Females would need both of their X chromosomes to carry the gene for color blindness to be affected.

This X-linked inheritance pattern explains the much higher percentage of colorblind males.

Types of Color Blindness Most Men Have

Red-green color blindness is the most common among men, affecting approximately 99% of those with color blindness. It breaks down into two types:

• Deutan (green-weak or green-blind)
• Protan (red-weak or red-blind)

Other types, like blue-yellow (tritan) or total color blindness (achromatopsia), are rare and not significantly more common in one gender.

What Percentage of Men Are Affected by Each Type?

Among the 8% of men with color blindness:

• Around 6% have deutan-type color deficiency
• About 2% have protan-type color deficiency

These values can vary slightly by ethnicity and region. Northern European populations tend to show higher prevalence rates than other groups.

Impact on Daily Life for Colorblind Men

Many men with color blindness lead normal lives without ever realizing they have a deficiency until it’s tested. But colorblindness can still affect:

• Choosing clothing and matching outfits
• Interpreting charts and graphs
• Reading color-coded maps
• Driving at night or in poor weather
• Pursuing certain careers (aviation, electrical work, some military roles)

I’ve successfully earned a degree in graphic design and now manage a team of designers and illustrators. So, these challenges can be overcome with some work and attention to detail.

Is Color Blindness in Men Being Addressed?

With better public awareness, accessibility tools, and inclusive design in digital products and games, colorblind users have more support than ever. Apps, browser extensions, and wearable filters can help identify colors more clearly.

Educational campaigns also help normalize the condition, especially as boys are often diagnosed in childhood.

Final Thoughts

So what percentage of men are colorblind? The answer is around 8%—a significant number that shapes how we design everything from signage to school materials.

Understanding the causes, impact, and distribution of color blindness helps reduce stigma and supports accessibility for everyone.

Last updated: June 06 2025