Are Green Eyes Rare?

Both rareness and beauty make green one of the most fascinating eye colors. From deep emeralds to light sage, green eyes are found in a variety of shades. Several factors make this eye color intriguing and unique.

Green is the rarest eye color in the world. But although eyes may appear green, there is no actual green pigment in the iris (the colored part of the eye). The hue is made possible by a pigment called melanin.

Other interesting facts about this eye color include:

• Green eyes (and lighter-colored eyes in general) are more sensitive to light. 
• Green is considered by many to be the most appealing eye color.
• Hollywood is full of green-eyed celebrities. Some of these include Terrence Howard, Scarlett Johanson, Paul Rudd, and Emma Stone. 

Read on to learn more about these facts, where green eyes are most common worldwide, and how to flatter this eye color with a new pair of reading glasses.

As mentioned above, green is the rarest eye color — especially when compared to other eye colors such as blue, brown, and hazel.  


Green eyes are more common in European countries than in other regions around the world. Only 9% of Americans and 2% of the global population possess this eye color.  

In short, they’re rare due to the factors that determine eye color: genetics and melanin. Green is also hard to predict. Let’s dig in: 

Scientists previously believed that only one gene was responsible for determining the eye color passed from parents to their children. But it has since been discovered that eye color inheritance is affected by multiple genes. This makes the odds of having green eyes hard to predict! 

Eye color is also affected by the amount, type, and distribution of melanin in your body. Melanin is a pigment that also controls hair color and skin tone. The more melanin you have, the darker your eyes, hair, and skin will be. Less melanin usually means lighter eyes, hair, and skin. Those with lighter eyes also have more of a certain type of melanin compared to individuals with darker eyes. 


Although people appear to have green, blue, or hazel eyes, these colors are not actually present in the iris. Melanin takes in different amounts of light, which is then scattered and reflected by the iris.  


Irises with more melanin absorb more light, which makes them look darker. Irises with less melanin don’t absorb as much light, making them appear lighter. 
The iris also has a front and back layer. The specific levels of melanin in each of these layers can make the eyes seem more green or blue (among other colors). Green eyes don’t have as much melanin in the front layer of the iris as brown eyes, but they have more melanin than blue eyes.  


This distribution of melanin is part of what makes green more distinctive. It also makes the color more rare. It’s more common to have a lot of melanin in both layers of the iris, like with brown eyes, than to only have a little bit in the front layer, like with green. 

Hazel and green eyes may seem similar in color, but there are some significant differences.  


Hazel eyes appear both green and brown. They may also have some areas of gold mixed throughout the iris. Some hazel eyes are more brown than green and vice versa. The distribution of melanin is not even throughout the iris, which is why more than one color appears to be present.
  

Green eyes, on the other hand, have a more even distribution of melanin throughout the iris. This makes for one continuous color in the eye.  


Some hazel eyes tend to have more green in them and are referred to as “hazel green.” The key difference is the appearance of multiple colors in hazel eyes, where green is more prominent.  


Both hazel and green are also rare compared to other common eye colors.  

Some frame colors are more flattering on green eyes than others. Look for options that complement your eyes or brighten them up with a pop of color! Here are some top choices to consider when choosing your frames: 


• Gold – Gold frames accentuate green eyes, making them stand out. 
• Brown – An earthy shade of amber or brown frames can be quite flattering to your eyes, complementing their natural hue. 
• Purple – Purple frames offer a fun contrast and can enhance the vibrancy of your eye color. 
• Pink – Pink frames are a great way to add some feminine flair and sparkle to your eyes. 


Certain frame colors may work better depending on whether your eyes are dark or light green. Of course, there’s no harm in choosing your favorite color or pattern.  


At Readers.com, we offer a wide variety of choices, whether you prefer a bold color or frame shape. Browse our collection today to find your next pair of reading glasses. 

1. Most common eye color. All About Vision. March 2021.* 
2. Hazel eyes: What determines hazel eye color? All About Vision. February 2019.* 
3. What is the rarest eye color? All About Vision. September 2020.* 
4. Eye colors: What is the rarest, the most common and why eyes are different colors. Glasses.com. April 2023.* 
5. Green eyes: The most attractive eye color? All About Vision. February 2019.* 
6. Eye color genetics. All About Vision. March 2021.* 
7. Hazel eyes: What color is hazel anyway? Eyebuydirect. August 2023.* 
8. What color glasses frames should I get? Eyebuydirect. Accessed April 2024.* 

Author: Anna Barden

Reviewed by Sonia Kelley, OD, MS on April 15, 2024 

Published: June 5, 2024