The world's population by blood groups
Blood groups are categorised by the presence or absence of certain antibodies and substances in the blood and the genes inherited from one's parents.
Knowing your blood type is important for medical reasons, especially in emergencies requiring blood transfusions.
According to the World Atlas, there are four main blood types: O, A, B, and AB, each with its unique characteristics and distribution across the global population.
Join us as we explore the blood type distribution across the globe according to the World Atlas:
Type O
This is the most common blood type worldwide. Its prevalence is founded on 42% of the global population having type O+ blood. However, only about 3% have type O- which is known as the universal donor type because it can be given to anyone regardless of their blood type.
Type A
This blood type is also quite common, with significant percentages in various populations. Approximately 31% of the world's population is A+ while 2.5% is A-.
Type B
Type B blood is less common than types O and A. According to the World Atlas, people with B+ blood are 15% of the global population while B- blood type stays at 1%.
Type AB
AB blood, the rarest of the main blood types is unique as it is the universal plasma donor due to the availability of both A and B antigens on the red blood cells and no anti-A or anti-B antibodies in the plasma. 5% of the global population is AB+ while AB-blood type individuals occupy 0.5%.
