The map above shows Male circumcision prevalence by country, according to sources from the Circumcision Reference and Commentary Service. It shows what percentage of males (of all ages) have been circumcised.
The World Health Organization estimates that roughly 30% of males worldwide have been circumcised, 2/3rds of whom are Muslim.
This can be seen very clearly in the map above, where Muslim majority countries are all in Dark Blue (prevalence above 90%). According to the data set used for the map, Afghanistan has the highest prevalence of male circumcision at 99.7%. At the other end of spectrum there are 40 countries with estimated prevalence below 0.1%.
The practice is relatively rare outside of Jewish and Muslim populations throughout Europe, India, East Asia, and South America.
Yet, the United States is an interesting outlier. Despite being roughly only 1.8% Jewish and 0.8% Muslim, it’s estimated to have a 79% male circumcision prevalence rate. Making it much more similar to to the countries of the Middle East than other countries in the “West.” Perhaps more interesting still, is that while there are many theories as to why this is the case, there is no definitive explanation.
Other interesting outliers include South Korea (83.2%) vs North Korea (0.1%) and the Philippines (92.5%). Despite neither being Muslim majority countries they both have very high prevalence rates. In both cases, it’s suspected to have been something introduced by US servicemen stationed in each country after World War Two.
To learn more read:
- Circumcision: A History Of The World’s Most Controversial Surgery
- Marked in Your Flesh: Circumcision from Ancient Judea to Modern America
- Please Don’t Circumcise Your Baby Boy: The Case Against Male Infant Circumcision
Have an opinion on male circumcision? Please leave your comments below (but do keep it civil):
נועם טל says
thank you for your map! i copied it with your link so i hope you do not mind? let me know please see https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1430868600564737&set=a.1398441323807465.1073741828.100009248324970&type=1
נועם טל says
thank you for your map, i will post again [cuz i do not see the first] i copied your map with your link and hope you do not mind, let me know.
נועם טל says
i comment on the colors chosen: on one hand relative to the united states where cut is common [58% according to “time magazine 2013] hence “not” circumcising seems like the stop=red light however i would prefer if the colors would be: “green”! symbolizing natural for the whole-uncut-males in the “natural state of birth” using shades of green for the degrees of prevalence- i mean dark green for rare that is china [less than one percent according to photius site, link below] india and united kingdom etc., [lighter-green for greater prevalence of male circumcision]. furthermore, the red color seems more appropriate for countries that contain “bleeding” babies in the context of male circumcision, however if that is a problem what about grey symbolizing the metal knife? gray-black for egypt etc. getting lighter as prevalence lessens. link 2006 but your map is more recent http://www.photius.com/rankings/circumcised_men_country_ranks.html
PACOBRUSSELS says
Hi. Circumcision is evil.
Even some jews reject it:
http://www.jewishcircumcision.org
נועם טל says
okay i agree with you paco.
Justin Perez says
Arbrahamic cultures and religions always fighting each other and fail to see the beauty of the barbarism that is child genital cutting which unites them.
#BeautifulStories
נועם טל says
to justin, i wish there were a way to publish the fact that the books of religion actualy teach not to circumcise when learning this issue “people should learn” that the christian holy bible instructed a commandment “do not circumcise” in first cor. chapter 7. and even the jewish bible does not truly say the word “cut” in hebrew nor does it say, neither in genesis by abraham nor in leviticus “any body part where” to do the “circumcision” until defining in the book deuteronomy “circumcise the heart”… not a cut and not genital. like trying to wear a suit that does not fit… a custom was wrongly attached to the words which do not match the ceremony.
Patrick Carlin says
Circumcision is prevalent in Judeo-Christian cultures or Old Testament imitating ones, such as Muslims.
נועם טל says
i wish there were a way to publish the fact that the books of religion actualy teach not to circumcise when learning this issue “people should learn” that the christian holy bible instructed a commandment “do not circumcise” in first cor. chapter 7. and even the jewish bible does not truly say the word “cut” in hebrew nor does it say, neither in genesis by abraham nor in leviticus “any body part where” to do the “circumcision” until defining in the book deuteronomy “circumcise the heart”… not a cut and not genital. like trying to wear a suit that does not fit… a custom was wrongly attached to the words which do not match the ceremony.
coip says
Circumcision is a euphemism. It’s barbaric, stupid, and removes functional, erogenous tissue. When imposed on children, it’s sexual assault and should be illegal.
Greg Hartley says
Well said!