How Many People Are Colorblind in 2025?

Color blindness affects millions globally, yet awareness remains surprisingly low. Understanding the scope helps drive inclusive design and better accessibility standards. Here’s what the latest data reveals.

What Is Color Blindness?

Color blindness, or color vision deficiency, is a condition where individuals perceive colors differently due to anomalies in cone cells in the retina. The most common form involves difficulty distinguishing red and green, though blue and yellow or all colors can be affected. This condition is often inherited, but can also result from aging, certain medications, or eye diseases.

How Common Is Color Blindness Worldwide?

Recent studies from 2023–2025 estimate that approximately 8% of men and 0.5% of women globally experience some form of color vision deficiency. This translates to about 300 million men and 15 million women affected worldwide. The majority of cases are red-green color blindness, caused by deficiencies in L-cones (red-sensitive) or M-cones (green-sensitive). While rare, total color blindness—where only shades of gray are seen—is extremely uncommon, occurring in less than 1 in 100,000 people.

These figures highlight a significant population segment often overlooked in design, marketing, and education. Updating visuals to be accessible benefits not just those with color vision differences but everyone through clearer communication.

Types and Causes of Color Vision Deficiency

Understanding the types helps clarify prevalence:

• Red-Green Color Blindness: The most frequent type, making it harder to differentiate between red, green, and brown hues. Often genetic and linked to the X chromosome.
  
• Blue-Yellow Color Blindness: Less common, causing challenges in distinguishing blue from yellow and light from dark. Usually acquired through eye disease or injury.
  
• Total Color Blindness (Achromatopsia): Rare condition where colors appear as grayscale. Typically congenital and associated with neurological factors.

Causes range from genetic inheritance—especially in males—to environmental factors like exposure to certain chemicals or prolonged screen use.

Why Awareness Matters for Design and Inclusion

With such a large number of people affected, inclusive design is no longer optional. Websites, apps, and printed materials that use color as the sole differentiator risk excluding millions. Adopting patterns like texture, labels, and high-contrast combinations improves accessibility and user experience universally.

Brands and content creators embracing color accessibility build trust and demonstrate commitment to diversity and user-centered values. Tools such as color contrast analyzers and accessibility audits help ensure compliance and clarity.

Conclusion and Call to Action

Understanding that roughly 8% of men and 0.5% of women live with color vision differences is the first step toward inclusivity. By integrating accessible design practices today, you make information clearer, interactions smoother, and digital spaces more welcoming. Start today—review your visuals, test color combinations, and prioritize accessibility. Empower everyone to engage fully.

Empower inclusion—audit your content for color accessibility now.