How Many People Have Tattoos in 2024? (U.S. & Worldwide)
How Many People Have Tattoos in the US? A Look at Tattoo Statistics and Trends in American Culture
Tattoos, once relegated as marks of societal rebels, inmates, servicemen, and circus sideshow acts, now decorate roughly 4 in 10 millennials and members of Gen Z nationwide. Yes, body art has undoubtedly hit the mainstream. But exactly how many Americans have tattoos? How has this form of self expression evolved in the public’s perception over time? As a leading tattoo data analyst, I’ve explored current and historical statistics behind the body modification wave sweeping the nation.
Surveying the Ink Landscape Today
Without question, tattoos remain on an upward trajectory in popularity across today’s American culture. Based on various surveys and polls:
An estimated 32% of all US adults now have at least one tattoo, equal to over 80 million tattooed Americans. Compared to just 16% two decades prior according to Harris polls, tattoo prevalence has essentially doubled since the late 1990s.
Younger groups reveal particularly high tattoo rates. Of all US adults aged 18 to 34, 47% sport at least one tattoo. And approximately 40% of the 85 million Americans comprising Gen Z (born 1997 onward) already have tattoos before age 25.
Regionally, the growing ubiquity of body art appears concentrated on the coasts and in major metros. For example, a survey of Los Angeles residents observed 49% with one or more tattoos – markedly above the nationwide average. Expect tattoo saturation approaching 50% or higher among young adult populations of East and West Coast cities.
Across most age groups, women outpace men for getting inked. 38% of women under 50 have tattoos compared to just 27% of men as per 2022 Pew Research. The one exception being older Americans (50+ years old), among whom men are slightly more likely to have tattoos than women on average.
Shifting Styles and Designs
Beyond quantifying tattoo prevalence itself, we can pinpoint several evolving trends surrounding tattoo aesthetics and placements:
Smaller tattoos reign supreme, as size preferences shift toward more delicate and minimalist designs. Micro tattoos under 1 inch and simple line work or outlines rank among today’s trendiest tattoo styles. These subtle stamps provide personal meaning in barely-there packages.
Tattoo placement preferences reveal society’s easing acceptance. Historically hidden spot like ribs, ankles, and shoulder blades now share popularity with outward facing locations like arms, legs, hands, and back of neck.
Nature and animal themes consistent top surveys of popular tattoo concepts aligned with broader wellness movements. 27% of customers seek natural representations like plants, trees, flowers, landscapes, butterflies, birds, etc. meanwhile geometric patterns and script/lettering make up an additional 43% of common designs.
Mainstream entertainment and celebrity tattoo culture wields immense influence today. Over 85% of young adults with multiple tattoos cite musicians, actors, athletes, and influencers as inspiration for their tattoo designs and styles according to skin art journals. And one survey found 1 in 5 people with a cultural figure’s portrait or facsimile tattooed got the ink within 6 months of that celebrity debuting new tattoos publicly.
While individual expression through tattoos certainly continues trending up, medical advances have eased anxieties over permanently marking one’s body. Laser tattoo removal procedures jumped from roughly 115k in 1999 to 505k in 2022 nationwide alongside huge leaps in removal technology. More affordable and effective than ever before, today’s laser treatments have helped destigmatize and popularize tattoos with fewer lifelong implications. Those still hesitant about permanent body can opt for temporary tattoo art or long-lasting semi-permanent tattoos, which permeate pop culture and offer more commitment-free means for self-expression.
Tattoo Prevalence Through the Decades
Despite tattooing practices tracing back well over 5,000 years ago, acceptance and popularity of decorative body ink has vacillated substantially in modern American society:
Early 1900s: Tattoos emerge but remain largely underground among soldiers, sailors, bikers, gangs, and circus performers, representing societal countercultures.
1930s-1940s: The golden age of American traditional tattoo style dominates this era. Still a niche trend though limited to roughly 5% of the early 20th century population based on studies.
1950s-1960s: Tattooing hits all-time low in visibility and popularity amid postwar conservatism. Heavily stigmatized leading many states and cities (including NYC) to ban tattooing over health concerns.
1970s-1980s: Counterculture movements like punk, rock, and biker subgroups again bring tattoos into the fringe limelight even inspiring some luxury fashion looks. By the mid 80s roughly 6% of national population estimated to have tattoos.
1990s-2000s: Strong technical innovations, nuanced designs, and niche celebrity tattoo culture facilitate more mainstream permeation leading up to 16% tattoo rate by late 1990s.
2010s: Widespread social acceptance accelerates, aided by reality TV shows like “Ink Master” and “LA Ink” alongside tattoo imagery across box office films, chart-topping albums, and scripted streaming series.
This abbreviated timeline outlines society’s evolving perceptions towards tattoos over the past century en route mainstream popularity today. Next I’ll explore facets surrounding the tattoo industry itself currently valued at $1.89 billion nationally, having swelled over 850% since the early 90s based on market research.
Inside the American Tattoo Industry Boom
Fueled by surging customer demand, the US tattoo industry has rapidly expanded over the past three decades. Here’s a closer look at market statistics segmented across tattoo shops and key supplies:
Tattoo Shops: Approximately 28,000 tattoo shops operate nationwide as of 2022. Custom tattoo shops focusing solely on ornate and personalized body art lead with a 62% industry market share currently. Walk-in local tattoo shops account for most remaining establishments (33%), though upscale tattoo parlor chains have entered select cities catering to affluent clients.
Tattoo Artists: Over 50,000 professional tattooists were active in the US as of 2021. The average annual salary for a full-time tattoo artist reaches about $52k as the role sheds historical odd job connotations. Top tattooists can easily clear six figures in annual earnings today, particularly celebrity artists charging over $1000 hourly.
Tattoo Equipment: Tattoo machines, ink caps, gloves and other disposable supplies represent a $460 million market domestically as of 2022. Reusable supplies like inkwells, tattoo chairs, and autoclaves add an additional estimated $375 million bringing supplies market to $835 million total.
Pigments: Inks and pigments make up the costliest tattoo supply segment, valued at over $1 billion for 2022 industrywide. A growth rate near 10% annually is forecasted for pigments and inks moving forward matching pace with new tattoo acquisitions.
Beyond economic impacts, this pervasive art form has threaded itself through numerous entertainment mediums and culture—even branding. Everything from video games featuring custom avatar tattoos to major sports organizations like the NBA and NFL promoting player tattoos help thrust this symbolism further into pop culture today. And global brands ranging from Nike to Red Bull actively collaborate with celebrity tattoo artists on capsule apparel and shoe collections that sell out instantly. Simply put, tattoo imagery circulates heavier than ever through American mainstream media, driving broader interest and acceptance that begets getting inked.
Health Innovations Raise Tattoo Safety
Even amid rampant tattoo popularity today, lingering health concerns associated with tattooing remain top of mind for many considering them. Issues like infections from unsanitary equipment or facilities, inflammatory reactions to certain ink pigments, MRI complications from embedded metallic ingredients, and other adverse effects come up as common patient questions in clinical research polls.
Many veteran tattooists point out that modern equipment sterilization standards and regulated ink ingredients used in legal tattoo shops mitigate most hazard risks that plagued the practice decades ago. However health experts counter that no national safety oversight board exists to uniformly enforce tattoo best practices or product quality measures in the largely unregulated industry. A handful of states have recently worked towards formalizing training protocols, licensing requirements, infection prevention education and other statewide tattoo regulations with mixed results.
Perhaps promisingly, a swath of healthcare technology startups aim to elevate tattoo safety through various medical innovations like:
Smart tattoo machines equipped with sensors that track depth, angle, speed and other tattooing metrics then provide artists real-time guidance to optimize application, prevent overwork of skin, etc.
Photosensitive color changing inks that react under UV light undetectable to the naked eye. The light-reflecting formulations act as visual warning beacons of distress signaling irritation or infection below skin’s surface.
Antimicrobial surface coatings for tattoo needles and tubes that dispatch microscopic germ resisting properties directly into skin during tattooing to enhance sterile protection.
-AI algorithms that assess tattoo designs then generate personalized postcare regimens for optimal after healing based on the tattoo’s size, placement, ink colors, content, and artistic style.
Though fringe for now, advances like these could foreseeably shift tattooing closer towards an appropriately medicalized practice in the coming decades if concerns continue mounting around tattoo safety hazards.
Tattoo Statistics Frequently Asked Questions
Having explored tattoo prevalence data across today’s culture, let’s recap some common questions surrounding the practice:
How long do most tattoos take? Tattoo completion times vary drastically based on size, complexity, placement area, tattoo style, and artist pace. Ballpark timeframes range from 30 minutes for very small single color tattoos (under 2 in) to dozens of multi-hour long sessions spaced over months for extensive tattoo coverage of large surface areas.
Does getting tattooed hurt? Yes, being tattooed involves repeatedly piercing skin with needles generally feels moderately to severely painful depending on each person’s pain tolerance. However, certain body areas are universally described as more painful for tattooing than others due to nerve ending density.
What’s the typical cost per tattoo? Hourly tattoo artist rates normally run $150-$250 per hour on average. At those blended rates, a tattoo spanning wrist to elbow may run $500 or a back tattoo could surpass $1000 after tip. Upcharges also apply for specialty tattoo styles requiring more time and equipment. And temporary tattoos cost under $10 on average.
How should I care for new tattoos? Artists provide aftercare directions tailored to your new tattoo, but guidelines generally involve keeping the area clean while avoiding direct sun exposure or submerging in water during the two week healing period. Applying prescribed ointment 1-3 times daily also helps protect the tattoo.
Can I still get an MRI scan if I have tattoos? You can still undergo MRI scans with tattoos but should notify your doctor beforehand. Certain inks contain traces of ferrous metals that may heat up or distort imagery though rarely causing serious complications. Newer inks continue moving toward exclusively MRI-safe formulations however.
In Closing
Expanding from taboo to trending, roughly 80 million Americans now have at least one tattoo. Younger millennials and Gen Z lead adoption boasting up to 50% tattoo rates in some areas. Though once relegated as marks of rebels and vagrants, shifting societal perceptions of tattoos facilitated the transition towards mainstream prominence we see today. From hits of minimalist ink peaking under shirt sleeves to full bodysuits of symbolic imagery, tattoos represent an increasingly pervasive fixture of American culture. And one that appears destined to continue rising in popularity across ages, genders, and locations judging by recent data trends surrounding this aesthetic phenomenon.
