Red Hair is Really Rare

According to the National Institutes of Health, only 2% or less of the world's population has red hair.  Red hair is associated with the gene MC1R, a recessive and somewhat rare gene and both parents must carry a copy of the gene to produce a red-haired child and often the trait skips generations. Rarest of all are redheads with blue eyes; the majority have brown eyes or hazel or green shades.

Ireland has the highest per capita percentage of redheads in the world -- anywhere from 10 to 30 percent, according to Eupedia, a website that explores European genetics and ancestry. They are almost equally prevalent in Scotland and other pockets of Celtic pride. A slightly lower percentage hail from Cornwall in England and western parts of Switzerland.