Considering getting inked? You are not alone! Tattoos have once again taken the center stage, in terms of popularity.

The majority of people, regardless of age, gender, and professional background are drawn to this art. Many are willing to spend thousands of bucks to get it done.

Find out what percentage of people have tattoos in 2023 and which countries have the highest percentage of the inked population worldwide.

Read until the end to find out whether having a tattoo reduces one’s chance to land a job in the workforce.

What Percentage of People Have Tattoos in 2023?

The answer to the question varies from one country to the other.

48% of Italy’s entire population have at least one tattoo while there seems to be non-existent data available for the Middle East as the Islamic religion considers this activity ‘haram’ or prohibited.

Nevertheless, there has been increasing attention to tattoos over the past decade.

In the United States, tattooing has taken the sixth spot among the fastest-growing industries in the country.

Percentage of People that Have Tattoos per Country

Take a look at the countries with the highest percentage of tattooed population, led by Italy and Sweden came next. 

Countries in Europe dominated the list namely Spain, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and France, among others, having between 35% to 48% of the total population with ink.

• Italy – 48% of the total population
• Sweden – 47% of the total population
• United States – 46% of the total population
• Australia – 43% of the total population
• Argentina – 43% of the total population
• Spain – 42% of the total population
• Denmark – 41% of the total population
• United Kingdom – 40% of the total population
• Brazil – 37% of the total population
• France – 36% of the total population
• Germany – 36% of the total population
• Greece – 35% of the total population

Despite topping the list, the same study shows that most Italians prefer to keep their tattoo to only one.

This compares to multiple numbers as seen in Sweden and the United States, both averaging four.

Percentage of People that Have Tattoos per Gender

Women are more likely to get inked than men. According to a survey from Oxygen Network and Lightspeed, 59% of the female population worldwide has at least one tattoo.

This is higher than the 41% recorded by their male counterparts.

The same holds in Greece but to a higher extent. 42% of women in the country have tattoos versus only 29% with that of men.

The result is different in the United States, with men showing more interest in the art than women.

15% of all American males, regardless of age, have a tattoo. Meanwhile, only 13% of female Americans declared to have one.

Russia has shown a similar trend. 39% of Russian men have at least one tattoo while there are only 27% of women have one.

Age Demographics of Tattooing

Looking at the age demographics of tattoos, the age group 18 to 34 years old is considered the most tatted population.

More than 40% of its members have one tattoo or more. 

Surprisingly, the data shows a good distribution of interest. Those aged 35 to 54 years old followed and took the second spot with 36%.

Alternatively, among people in the 55 years old age and up group, only 16% of them have tattoos.

Educational Attainment Statistics of Tattooing

In terms of education, people that have tattoos have broken the popular stigma of tattoos’ association with crime, early dropout, and low education. 

32% of people with high educational attainment, translating to college or post-graduate finishers, have tattoos.

This is versusto the 26% recorded on respondents with low education levels.

Tattoo and Workplace Stigma

One of the considerations why people distance themselves from getting a tattoo or keeping existing ones behind the clothing is workplace stigma.

Despite having it done, 72% of the world’s adults have tattoos kept away from the standard view.

This means their inks hide behind their shirts or any piece of clothing to cover up whenever going to a workplace.

About 65% of survey participants in a study conducted in the United Kingdom prefer employees having tattoos if they work in the gig economy, particularly in the beauty industry. 25% have shown approval for tatted photographers.

On the other hand, participants have shown an entirely different point of view for people working in formal and high-skilled settings such as doctors and lawyers.

The approval rate for a tattoo on these professions goes as low as less than 10%.

Tattoos and Their Effect on One’s Job Chances

Despite the advances made to unwrap the stigma on the tattooed population, especially in highly-developed economies, there are still high rates of discrimination held up to this day.

Take a look at the common tattoo placements and their effect on an individual’s chance of getting hired.

• Tattoo on the face – 61% substantially less likely to be hired and 17% slightly less likely to be hired
• Tattoo on the neck – 40% substantially less likely to be hired and 26% slightly less likely to be hired
• Tattoo on the hand – 32% substantially less likely to be hired and 28% slightly less likely to be hired
• Arm sleeves tattoo (covering the entire arm or both) – 25% substantially less likely to be hired and 25% slightly less likely to be hired
• Forearm tattoo – 17% substantially less likely to be hired and 24% slightly less likely to be hired
• Upper arm tattoo – 11% substantially less likely to be hired and 16% slightly less likely to be hired
• Lower back tattoo – 7% substantially less likely to be hired and 7% slightly less likely to be hired

The Stigma Goes On

As can be observed from the data, people with more visible tattoos, especially ones placed on the face and neck, get a high percentage of substantially not getting the job they applied for.

While those hidden inside one’s clothing such as those located in the upper arm and lower back solicit a lower rate of negative feedback.

However, there is an obvious prejudice involving all tatted people, regardless of the location of their tattoos.

This puts them in an automatic underdog position versus their non-inked counterparts.

Conclusion

There you have the answer to “what percentage of people have tattoos in 2023?”.

There is a growing appetite for permanent inking over the past years, especially in European countries and in developed economies such as the United States and Australia. 

On the other hand, there remains a huge stigma among people with tattoos in the workforce.

Studies show that job applicants with a tattoo on the face or neck are more likely to miss a job opportunity compared to others. 

Still, many men and women discounting their age, educational attainment, and profession are making a bold move to get ink on their skin.

Sources