Dark olive green eyes are one of the rarest eye colors in the world. They are a unique shade that appears to shift between green, brown, and gray. But just how uncommon are these mesmerizing peepers? Let’s take a look at the data and find out.
What Causes Dark Olive Green Eye Color?
Eye color is determined by the amount and quality of melanin pigments in the iris of the eye. Melanin comes in two forms:
- Eumelanin – Brown and black pigments
- Pheomelanin – Red and yellow pigments
Most people have a combination of both melanins in their iris, resulting in eye colors like brown, amber, or hazel. Green eyes are rare because they have very low levels of melanin overall. Instead, they contain a yellowish pigment called lipochrome.
Dark olive green eyes get their complex coloring from having both lipochrome and small amounts of melanin. The melanin adds flecks and streaks of brown, gray, and olive to the golden-green base. This mixture creates a multicolored swirl that almost appears to change shades in different lighting.
Global Prevalence of Dark Olive Green Eyes
Worldwide, only about 2% of the population has green eyes. This already small percentage includes all shades of green, from light mint to deep emerald. Within that 2%, dark olive green eyes make up just a tiny fraction.
Here is a breakdown of green eye prevalence by country:
| Country | Percentage of Population with Green Eyes |
|---|---|
| Iceland | 88% |
| Ireland | 86% |
| Scotland | 57% |
| England | 48% |
| Germany | 10% |
| Spain | 9% |
| Italy | 7% |
| Greece | 5% |
| Netherlands | 4% |
| Austria | 3% |
As you can see, green eyes are most common in northern and western European countries. This is due to genetic factors tracing back to Norse, Celtic, and Germanic ethnic groups. But even in those populations, true dark olive green eyes are rare.
Genetics Behind Dark Olive Green
For a person to have dark olive green eyes, they must inherit genes for low melanin from both parents. Mother Nature really has to come together to create this eye shade!
Here are the main genetic combinations that can result in dark olive green eyes:
- Parents both have blue eyes – Resulting child will have very little melanin overall, allowing olive undertones to show through
- One parent has blue eyes, one has green or hazel – Reduced melanin from the blue-eyed parent dilutes melanin from green/hazel parent
- Both parents have green or hazel eyes – Very rare; child inherits ideal melanin levels to create dark olive hue
- One parent has green eyes, one has brown – Low melanin from green-eyed parent limits brown melanin from other parent
As you can see, the genetics have to be just right. A delicate balance of eumelanin and pheomelanin levels is needed to produce those enchanting flecks of olive, gray, and brown.
Dark Olive Green Eyes in Celebrities
This rare eye color is occasionally seen amongst celebrities. Here are a few famous faces rocking mesmerizing dark olive green eyes:
- Cillian Murphy – Irish actor known for roles in Peaky Blinders and Batman Begins
- Lauren Graham – American actress starring in Gilmore Girls and Parenthood
- Ian Somerhalder – Played vampire Damon Salvatore in The Vampire Diaries
- Simon Baker – Australian actor and star of The Mentalist
- Amanda Seyfried – Appeared in Mean Girls, Mamma Mia!, Les Miserables
- David Beckham – Iconic British footballer
- Patrick Dempsey – “McDreamy” from hit show Grey’s Anatomy
- Demi Moore – Actress known for Ghost, A Few Good Men, Margin Call
- Catherine Zeta-Jones – Welsh beauty starred in Zorro, Ocean’s 12, Chicago
While dark olive greens are certainly present in Hollywood, they remain a very small minority even amongst celebrities. Most stars have more common eye colors like blue and brown.
Conclusion
So how rare are dark olive green eyes? In summary:
- Only about 2% of people worldwide have green eyes
- Of that 2%, a minority have a dark olive green hue
- Certain genetic traits like low melanin are required to produce this eye color
- Northern and Western European ethnicities are more likely to have them
- But even in those populations, dark olive green is unusual
- A handful of celebrities have this memorable eye shade
Overall, dark olive greens are one of the rarest eye colors. Their complex, shifting color palette stands out. If you happen to have them, cherish those exotic peepers!
