In this article, we will look at the 20 countries with the most beautiful eyes in the world and take an overview of the global cosmetic sector, focusing on the eyes.
Overview of the Global Cosmetic Sector
Beauty is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, with people across the globe wanting to become a part of it. According to a report by McKinsey & Company, the beauty market generated around $430 billion in revenue in 2022. This included fragrance, skincare, haircare, and makeup. The industry has remained resilient despite a turbulent macroeconomic environment, and has been on the path to recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. The beauty market is anticipated to touch the $580 billion mark by 2027, which translates to a projected growth of 6% a year.
The Eye Makeup and Contact Lenses Market
The eye makeup market makes up a significant portion of the beauty industry, and typically includes products like eye shadow, eyeliner, mascara, and other relevant makeup product types. According to a report by Mordor Intelligence, the eye makeup market is expected to grow with a CAGR of 5.40% between 2019 and 2029. Although the fastest growing market for the eye makeup industry is the Asia and Pacific region, the largest market appears to be concentrated in North America. According to a report by Cosmetics Europe, the cosmetic industry in Europe supports more than 3.6 million jobs in the region. As of 2022, the industry generated around 254,256 direct jobs, along with approximately 2.78 million indirect jobs in the cosmetics value chain. In addition, for every ten job opportunities created by the cosmetics and personal care industry in Europe, at least two additional jobs crop up in the wider economy.
Another report by Mordor Intelligence shows that the market size for contact lenses stood at $10.23 billion as of 2024, and is expected to reach $12.24 billion by 2029. This translates to a positive growth rate standing at a CAGR of 3.66% between 2024 and 2029. While the fastest-growing market for contact lenses is in the Asia-Pacific region as of 2024, the largest market is concentrated in North America. You can also look at 20 Countries with the Most Beautiful Women in Asia and 15 Beauty Treatments That Are Expensive But Totally Worth It.
Key Players in the Cosmetic Industry
A number of prominent brands have been making advances in the industry, including increased accessibility of cruelty-free products. Some of these companies include The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL) and L’Oréal SA (EPA:OR). The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL) just completed its acquisition of the Canadian-based DECIEM Beauty Group Inc., a multi-brand company known for its flagship brand The Ordinary. Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL) initially invested in DECIEM Beauty Group Inc., more commonly known as The Abnormal Beauty Company, in 2017. The former then became the majority owner of DECIEM Beauty Group Inc. in 2021, before eventually acquiring the remaining interests. The Ordinary is known for its innovative approach to skincare, with a number of its products specially made for the eyes.
L’Oréal SA (EPA:OR) reported a 9.4% increase in sales in Q1 2024, primarily driven by North America and Europe. Owner of Maybelline and Lancome brands, the French cosmetics company reported sales of $11.98 billion in the quarter that ended on March 31. Sales across North America and Europe increased by more than 12% in both regions, with the company’s dermatological products and mass market range making up for reduced demand in the luxury sector. L’Oreal SA (EPA:OR) is on its way to become the first beauty company to measure the environmental footprint of its retail elements by adopting the EcoDesignCloud by Eviden. As part of the company’s Future sustainability ambitions, the solution calculates the environmental footprint of the lifecycle of its promotional and point-of-sale materials. Here is what Antoine Vanlaeys, Chief Operations Officer, L’Oréal Groupe, had to say about it:
“Assessing the environmental performance of our suppliers will enable us to support our partners as well as lead the retail industry towards a more sustainable economy. This level of transparency and cooperation can also open up new avenues for innovation by exploring how different configurations, designs, materials, and processes can completely re-invent sustainable beauty experiences in-store. With our sourcing team, we are proud to onboard our ecosystem of suppliers and accelerate our transformation journey with a new, sustainable retail experience.”
Now that we have taken an overview of the cosmetic industry with a special focus on eyes, let’s take a look at the 20 countries with the most beautiful eyes in the world. You can also look at 12 Best Beauty Stocks to Buy Now and 17 Best Floral Perfumes to Wear This Spring And Beyond.
Copyright: jenifoto / 123RF Stock Photo
Our Methodology
In order to compile a list of the 20 countries with the most beautiful eyes in the world, we used a consensus approach and a visitor survey through Reddit. Firstly, we consulted ten online beauty expert resources to compile a list of the countries with the most beautiful eyes in the world. Next, we looked at eight Reddit threads that asked commenters to mention the countries with the most beautiful eyes in the world. We only chose threads that had more than 50 comments. We then counted the number of upvotes on each comment and chose the top 20 countries with the most number of upvotes. The 20 countries with the most beautiful eyes in the world are arranged in ascending order of their number of upvotes on Reddit.
Note: This list is not exhaustive and does not reflect our opinion. The ranking is solely based on the opinions of mass consumers on Reddit.
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20 Countries with the Most Beautiful Eyes in the World
20. Russia
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 430
Russia ranks 20th on our list of the 20 countries with the most beautiful eyes in the world with 430 upvotes on Reddit. Russians usually have blue, gray, or brown eyes, but lighter colors including green and hazel are not very rare. Since the country has residents from diverse ethnic backgrounds, the facial features of the residents of the country also vary with location.
19. Kazakhstan
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 479
The Kazakhs are the descendants of medieval Mongol and Turkic tribes, with a significant portion of the population bearing unique, brown-colored eyes. Hazel, amber, and green are also common eye colors for the people of the country.
18. Armenia
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 523
Formerly a part of the Soviet Republic, the Asian country of Armenia is located in the Caucasus region between Europe and Asia. A majority of the people in the country have brown eyes, with their distinct shape and charm ranking the country on our list.
17. Poland
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 545
The most common eye color in Poland is blue, with around half the country’s population bearing blue eyes. Hazel and green are also common eye colors among the Polish people, but the number of brown-eyed people is relatively lower in the country.
16. Estonia
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 546
Estonia is located in northern Europe and borders the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea. It ranks 16th on our list with 546 Reddit upvotes supporting it as one of the countries with the most beautiful eyes in the world.
15. Afghanistan
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 568
The Afghan people are renowned for their beauty across the globe, and Reddit users rank the country on our list of the 20 countries with the most beautiful eyes in the world. Although brown eyes are the most common in the region, a number of Afghans have striking eye colors, including hazel, green, and blue.
14. Japan
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 614
The Japanese have eyes very similar to their East Asian counterparts, with monolids and dark eye colors being the most common. A majority of the Japanese have black or brown eyes and dark hair, with blue and green eyes being relatively rare in the region.
13. Spain
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 620
The Spanish are known for their distinct facial features, and rank among the countries with the most beautiful eyes in the world. Spain ranks 13th on our list.
12. The United Kingdom
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 634
The United Kingdom has immense diversity in its facial features, with residents of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland bearing varying eye colors. The most common eye color in the native White English population is blue, but dark eyes are also common in the region.
11. The Netherlands
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 657
Colored eyes are very common in the Netherlands, with a majority of Dutch people having blue or green eyes. Reddit users rank Dutch people among the populations with the most beautiful eyes in the world.
10. Brazil
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 658
Officially known as the Federative Republic of Brazil, Brazil is the easternmost country located in South America. It ranks tenth on our list of the 20 countries with the most beautiful eyes in the world.
9. Norway
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 679
The Scandinavian country of Norway is known for having light-colored eyes, with blue, green, and gray being the most common eye colors. It ranks ninth on our list with 679 Reddit upvotes.
8. Ireland
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 689
Although physical traits vary across the country, quintessential Irish traits include blue eyes and dark hair. Lighter eyes are very common in the country, ranking Ireland eighth on our list. The country has 689 upvotes on Reddit.
7. Iceland
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 723
Blue is the most common eye color in almost all Nordic countries, including Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland. Iceland ranks seventh on our list of the 20 countries with the most beautiful eyes in the world with 723 Reddit upvotes.
6. Iran
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 724
With a significant portion of Iran’s population hailing from the Aryans, Iranians are considered to have some of the most beautiful eyes in the world. Although a majority of the country has brown eyes, colored eyes are also common, with around 30% of the population having lighter eyes.
5. Sweden
Number of Reddit Upvotes: 740
Blue eyes are relatively more common in Europe, especially in the north of the country. This is primarily why a significant portion of the Finnish and Swedish population has blue eyes. Sweden ranks fifth on our list.