Getting a tattoo is a wildly popular form of self-expression these days.
In recent years, getting “inked” as it’s sometimes called, has become immensely popular.
We have done the homework and sourced some tattoo statistics you need to know about.
For instance, getting a tattoo has become specifically more popular among the Millennial crowd with more than 40% of the generation having tattoos.
There are several elements that have contributed to the rise in tattoo popularity.
One such element is that fact that tattoos for self-expression have become more “accepted” by society today.
Another element that has rendered a rise in tattoo popularity is the expanding accessibility of high-quality tattoo studios and highly skilled and talented tattoo artists.
There are also more choices in tattoo designs today than ever before.
We have statistics about tattoos that will provide invaluable insights into the popularity of getting inked, the demographics for getting tattoos, why people get tattoos, and more.
Whether you’re considering getting a tattoo, you have tattoos, or you are a tattoo artist, these statistics will provide some value for you to read.
Key Statistics
- 32% of Americans have tattoos.
- 22% of American adults with tattoos have more than one.
- 51% of LGB Americans have at least one tattoo.
- 38% of women sport at least one tattoo in America.
- 32% of Black/African Americans have at least one tattoo.
- The global tattoo market is expected to grow to $3.93 billion by 2030.
- In 2022, Europe had a 33.50% share in the global tattoo market.
- There are an estimated 225 million people all over the globe that have tattoos.
- 42% of the adult population in Spain have a tattoo.
- Middle-aged people tend to have more tattoos than the younger crowd.
Top Tattoo Statistics in 2024
1. 32% of Americans Are Sporting Tattoos.
According to studies conducted by the Pew Research Center, there are 32% of people in the United States who have tattoos.
Moreover, tattoos have become more accepted in the workplace and even some political leaders have tattoos.
Most Americans are more accepting of people with tattoos than in the past.
(Pew Research Center)
2. 22% of American Adults with Tattoos Have More than One.
Besides the fact that Americans are more accepting of tattoos and that nearly one-third of the United States population sports ink, 22% of this group have more than one tattoo.
Also, there has been no significant distinct between where people live or their political leanings among Americans with tattoos with all of these groups having a one-third share in sporting a tattoo.
(Pew Research Center)
3. 51% of LGB Americans Have at Least One Tattoo.
In terms of sexual orientation, 51% of the LGB community sports at least one tattoo.
Women have a 68% share of those in the community who have tattoos and 55% of them have more than one.
For comparison, 31% of heterosexual Americans have at least a single tattoo.
(Pew Research Center)
4. 38% of Women Sport at Least One Tattoo in America.
Gender-based statistics related to tattoos reveal that 38% of women are sporting at least one tattoo in America.
For reference, 27% of American men have at least one tattoo.
Therefore, this data tells us that women get tattoos more often than men in America.
(Pew Research Center)
5. 32% of Black/African Americans Have at Least One Tattoo.
According to race/ethnicity statistics about tattoos, 32% of Black/African Americans are sporting at least one tattoo.
In the Hispanic/Latino community, this percentage is 35%.
Only 14% of Asian Americans have tattoos.
Moreover, 32% of White/Caucasian Americans have at least one tattoo.
(Pew Research Center)
6. The Global Tattoo Market Is Expected to Grow to $3.93 Billion by 2030.
By the end of 2022, the global tattoo market was valued at $1.89 billion (USD).
By 2030, this market is expected to reach a value of $3.93 billion (USD).
The CAGR is expected to be 9.87% for the forecast period, The value of the tattoo market for 2023 is forecast at $2.04 billion (USD).
(Fortune Business Insights)
Europe came out on top in the tattoo market in 2022 with a 33.50% share, which was the most prominent in the world.
This data indicates that getting inked is popular in European countries.
Moreover, 14% of adults living in the EU have at least one tattoo.
Europe seems to be more accepting of this form of self-expression as well.
(Fortune Business Insights, Gitnux Blog)
8. There Are an Estimated 225 Million People All Over the Globe that Have Tattoos.
The latest estimates reveal that around 225 million people all around the world have at least a single tattoo and some more than one.
These statistics about tattoos tell us that getting inked is becoming popular all over the world and not just in America.
(Gitnux Blog, The Small Business Blog)
9. 48% of The Adult Population in Italy Have a Tattoo.
In terms of where people have the most tattoos, we need to look at the 48% of the adult population in Italy.
This is currently known as where the most people have tattoos, according to recent data.
Italy is part of the European tattoo market.
Europe has 6 out of the top 10 on the list where people have the most tattoos.
(Statista, World Atlas)
10. Middle-Aged People Tend to Have More Tattoos than The Younger Crowd.
According to one survey, middle-aged people are more apt to have a tattoo than people from younger generations.
In fact, 46% of people between 30 and 49 have at least one tattoo, of which 32% have more than one.
(Pew Research Center, World Atlas)
11. Sweden Ranked Second in The Percentage of People Who Have Tattoos.
Sweden ranked second after Italy in terms of how many people have tattoos in the world at 47%.
Notice how the percentage point is only 1% lower in this data than in Italy. That’s a remarkably close second.
Spain, another one of the 6 out of 10 countries on the list accounted for 42%.
(Statista)
12. The United States Ranked 3rd for People Who Have the Most Tattoos on The Globe.
The United States’ global percentage of how many people have tattoos was 46% in 2018, which gave the country third place on the list after Sweden.
Australia is far behind at 43% and Denmark has only 1% less than Spain at 41%.
(Statista)
In ninth place in the world in terms of the percentage of people with tattoos is the United Kingdom with a 40% share.
Brazil follows close with 37% and France accounts for 36%.
France is yet another European country that made the top 10 list for how many people have tattoos in the world.
(Statista)
14. One Survey Showed that 92% of People with Tattoos Have No Regrets.
Tattoo regret is a real part of the tattoo market.
However, a whooping overarching 92% of people who have tattoos say they don’t regret getting inked.
This data came from a 2019 Ipsos poll of people who have at least one tattoo. Therefore, we can surmise that tattoo removal is less likely to occur in most instances.
(Earthweb, Glam)
15. Between 17% and 50% of People with Tattoos Struggle with Tattoo Regret.
Recent data revealed that between 17% and 50% of people who have tattoos experience tattoo regret.
While tattoo regret isn’t exactly at an all-time high, it’s still enough to have data to confirm that it happens.
We should mention that not everyone that experiences tattoo regret has their tattoo removed.
(New Look Laser College)
16. 47% of Tattoos Are Removed with A Q-Switched Laser in Australia.
In Australia, 47%, nearly half, of people who experience tattoo regret had their tattoo(s) removed via Q-switched laser.
According to Cameron Rokhsar, M.D., of New York, Q-switched laser (quality-switched laser) removal of tattoos is the best method for tattoo removal.
(History of Tattoos, New York Cosmetic, Skin, & Laser Surgery Center)
17. 5% of People with Tattoos Who Regret Their Tattoo Have Had Another Tattoo Done to Cover It.
Only 5% of people with tattoos that they regretted said that they had another tattoo done to cover it up.
Reasons for this include a name tattoo of someone they no longer see, a poor-quality tattoo, or other things they didn’t like about the tattoo.
(History of Tattoos)
18. Japanese Is the Most Searched Language for Tattoo Inspiration.
Japanese letters, symbols, and words are often searched for tattoo inspiration.
In fact, Japanese is the most searched language among those seeking to get inked.
This may be due to the popularity of Japanese symbols in tattoos or because much can be expressed with a single, small Japanese symbol/letter.
(History of Tattoos)
19. In America, People Spend $1.65 Billion Each Year on Tattoos.
In America, people who want tattoos will spend $1.65 billion (USD) annually on tattoos.
That’s a significant amount of money for self-expression.
This tells us how important self-expression is in the United States.
However, after reading tattoo data from other countries, self-expression is a global ideal.
(History of Tattoos)
20. In 2021, 41% of Millennials Had at Least One Tattoo.
American Millennials in 2021 accounted for 41% of people with at least one tattoo.
This is the largest share of the 46% of Americans with tattoos.
Gen-X is second to Millennials with 32% of the share of people with tattoos in America.
Moreover, Baby Boomers account for only 13% and Gen Z 23%.
(Statista²)
FAQs
Is Getting a Tattoo Painful?
Yes. At least some level of pain is to be expected when you get a tattoo.
How much pain you experience depends on factors like your pain tolerance, the size of the tattoo, where you have it inked, the tattoo artist’s technique and experience, and the design of the tattoo itself.
The ribs, hands, and feet are three of the most sensitive areas to get tattooed.
Also tattoos with a great amount of detail or shading can be more painful.
How Long Does a Tattoo Take?
The length of time it takes to get inked depends on the complexity, size, design, and placement of the tattoo.
Other factors include the skill and experience of the tattoo artist and how many breaks you need during the process.
What Does It Cost to Get Inked?
As you might suspect, the size, detail, and complexity of a tattoo and the artist’s expertise are considered in the price of getting inked.
For instance, larger and more detailed tattoos cost more than a simple small tattoo.
Pricing can be a flat fee for small tattoos or an hourly fee for more complex inking.
What Are Some Risks of Getting a Tattoo?
Yes. There are some risks associated with getting inked such as allergic reactions, scarring, and infections.
Infections can range from mild to severe and in rare cases may be fatal.
However, you can mitigate these risks by following the instructions given to you about the care and maintenance of a new tattoo.
Will Getting a Tattoo Adversely Affect Getting a Job?
Since the acceptance of tattoos has gotten better over the past decade, there is also more acceptance of tattoos in the workplace with a few exceptions.
Some employers have strict rules against tattoos or at least against visible tattoos.
Therefore, you will need to cover them up if you want a job where they aren’t acceptable.
It’s important to look at the company’s policy on tattoos (or ask about it) before you apply.
Can You Get a Tattoo Removed if You Don’t Want It Anymore?
Yes. There has been some success in tattoo removal, which is mostly done via laser tattoo removal.
While laser tattoo removal is the most expensive solution, it’s also the most expensive option.
Chemical peels and dermabrasion can be more painful and less effective, though also less expensive.
Tattoo removal methods are best determined by the size, age, and color of the tattoo.
Conclusion
Now we know that about 225 million people all over the globe have tattoos and that tattoo regret is relatively low.
Tattoo removal is also very low even when people experience tattoo regret.
Laser (q-switched method) tattoo removal is the most popular form of tattoo removal, but it’s also the most expensive.
Laser tattoo removal can take up to 10 or more sessions for effective removal.
Other forms can be more painful, like dermabrasion, though less expensive.
These statistics confirm the importance of carefully deciding whether to get inked.
Also, you must consider the regret and removal factor carefully since tattoos are essential permanent.
As always, we hope you have learned some new things about tattoos, the demographics of those who are getting inked, and reasons for getting tattoos.