Key figures from the map
- The highest labelled rates are Afghanistan (99.8%), Iran (99.7%), and Mauritania, Nigeria and Yemen (99% each).
- The lowest labelled rates are 0.1% in Greenland, Iceland and North Korea, and 1.3% in Brazil.
- In North America the map shows the USA at 71%, Canada at 32% and Mexico at 15%.
- Neighbouring countries can differ sharply. South Korea is shown at 77% and Japan at 9%; India at 13% sits between Pakistan (96%) and Bangladesh (93%).
- All figures are from the map, which cites Morris, Wamai, Henebeng and others, Population Health Metrics, 2016.
Circumcision rates by country in text
The map shades every country on a scale from white (0%) to deep red (99%), with legend marks at 0%, 33%, 66% and 99%. Only the countries below carry a printed figure. The last column is the value for the same country in Table 1 of the study the map cites, which we opened to check each label [1][2].
| Region | Country (label on the map) | Map | Study table (Morris et al., 2016) |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America | Greenland | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| North America | Canada | 32% | 31.9% |
| North America | USA | 71% | 71.2% |
| North America | Mexico | 15% | 15.4% |
| South America | Peru | 3.7% | 3.7% |
| South America | Brazil | 1.3% | 1.3% |
| South America | Argentina | 3% | 2.9% |
| Europe | Iceland | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Europe | Norway | 3% | 3.0% |
| Europe | UK | 21% | 20.7% |
| Europe | Germany (Germ.) | 11% | 10.9% |
| Europe | France | 14% | 14% |
| Europe | Spain | 7% | 6.6% |
| Europe and Asia | Russia | 12% | 11.8% |
| Europe and Asia | Turkey | 98.6% | 98.6% |
| Central and South Asia | Kazakhstan (Kazakh.) | 56% | 56.4% |
| Central and South Asia | Iran | 99.7% | 99.7% |
| Central and South Asia | Afghanistan (Afg) | 99.8% | 99.8% |
| Central and South Asia | Pakistan (Pak) | 96% | 96.4% |
| Central and South Asia | Nepal | 4% | 4.2% |
| Central and South Asia | India | 13% | 13.5% |
| Central and South Asia | Bangladesh (B’desh) | 93% | 93.2% |
| Central and South Asia | Sri Lanka | 9% | 8.5% |
| East and Southeast Asia | China | 14% | 14.0% |
| East and Southeast Asia | North Korea (N.Korea) | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| East and Southeast Asia | South Korea (S.Korea) | 77% | 77.0% |
| East and Southeast Asia | Japan | 9% | 9% |
| East and Southeast Asia | Philippines (spelt Phillippines) | 92% | 91.7% |
| East and Southeast Asia | Indonesia | 92.5% | 92.5% |
| Middle East | Egypt | 95% | 94.7% |
| Middle East | Saudi Arabia (S.Arabia) | 97.1% | 97.1% |
| Middle East | UAE | 76% | 76% |
| Middle East | Oman | 88% | 87.7% |
| Middle East | Yemen | 99% | 99.0% |
| Africa | Algeria | 98% | 97.9% |
| Africa | Libya | 97% | 96.6% |
| Africa | Mauritania | 99% | 99.2% |
| Africa | Mali | 86% | 86% |
| Africa | Niger | 95% | 95.5% |
| Africa | Chad | 74% | 73.5% |
| Africa | Sudan | 40% | 39.4% |
| Africa | Nigeria | 99% | 98.9% |
| Africa | Central African Republic (CAR) | 63% | 63.0% |
| Africa | South Sudan (S.Sudan) | 24% | 23.6% |
| Africa | Ethiopia | 92% | 92.2% |
| Africa | Somalia | 94% | 93.5% |
| Africa | Kenya | 91% | 91.2% |
| Africa | DR Congo (D.Congo) | 97% | 97.2% |
| Africa | Tanzania | 72% | 72% |
| Africa | Angola | 58% | 57.5% |
| Africa | Namibia | 24% | 25.5% |
| Africa | South Africa (S.Africa) | 44.7% | 44.7% |
| Africa | Madagascar | 95% | 94.7% |
| Oceania | Australia | 27% | 26.6% |
| Oceania | New Zealand | 33% | 33.0% |
Many smaller countries are shaded but not labelled, including much of West Africa, the Gulf and Central Asia. Their values can only be estimated from the colour.
How common circumcision is worldwide
The study behind the map estimated the share of circumcised males in all 237 countries and territories. Using two different population bases, it put global prevalence at 38.7% and 36.7%, and concluded that 37 to 39% of men worldwide are circumcised [1]. In 63 countries, adult prevalence was above 90% [1].
The authors say approximately half of circumcisions were for religious and cultural reasons. Where no survey data existed, they assumed 99.9% of Muslim and Jewish men were circumcised and applied a minimum of 0.1% for medical reasons, and they note that either assumption could make some country estimates too high or too low [1]. That method is why so many figures on the map are 0.1% or close to 99%.
Circumcision and HIV programmes in Africa
Several of the eastern and southern African figures on the map sit in countries with health programmes. In 2007 WHO and UNAIDS recommended voluntary medical male circumcision to reduce the risk of men acquiring HIV through heterosexual sex, based on randomised controlled trials showing an approximately 60% lower risk [3]. WHO reports that more than 27 million procedures have been performed since then in 15 priority countries in Eastern and Southern Africa [3]. This page describes the data only and is not medical advice.
Notes on this infographic
- Data date. The figures are estimates published in 2016, built from surveys of different years and 2015 population figures [1]. Current rates in some countries may differ.
- Namibia. The map labels Namibia 24%, but the study table gives 25.5% [2]. Every other label is within half a percentage point of the table.
- Spelling. The map spells Philippines as “Phillippines”.
- Two Sudans. The study lists Sudan at 39.4% and South Sudan at 23.6% [2], which the map rounds to 40% and 24%.
Questions about circumcision rates by country
What percentage of men are circumcised?
The study behind this map estimated that 37 to 39% of men worldwide are circumcised, with central estimates of 38.7% and 36.7% depending on the population figures used [1].
Which countries circumcise?
On this map the highest rates, above 90%, are across North Africa, the Middle East, Central and South Asia and Indonesia, plus several sub-Saharan African countries such as Nigeria (99%), Ethiopia (92%) and Kenya (91%). Outside those regions the USA (71%) and South Korea (77%) stand out.
What countries do not circumcise?
No country is shown at zero. The lowest labelled figures are 0.1% for Greenland, Iceland and North Korea, followed by Brazil (1.3%), Argentina (3%), Norway (3%) and Peru (3.7%).
Sources
- Morris, Wamai, Henebeng and others, Estimation of country-specific and global prevalence of male circumcision, Population Health Metrics 14, 4 (2016).
- Same study, Table 1, percentage of circumcised males in each of the 237 countries and territories.
- World Health Organization, Voluntary medical male circumcision for HIV prevention.
Last reviewed 29 October 2026
