Tattoo Statistics and Opinions of Americans

Tattoos have exploded in popularity over the last 10 years. What were once marks of rebellious outlaws have become exceedingly mainstream.

A National Geographic poll in 2000 found that about 15% of Americans have been inked, or roughly 40 million people.

A recent Playboy poll found that 36% of all people aged 18-29 have at least one piece and other numbers suggest that 45 million Americans are inked!

Esquire Magazine has stated that the number of tattooed Americans is one in every eight.

The American Academy of Dermatology estimates that 36% of Americans aged 18 - 50 have a tattoo.

The Harris Interactive Poll on tattoos from 2003 is the most extensive poll done and is listed below.

The recent Harris Poll finds that 16% of all adults have at least one tattoo. The highest incidence of tattoos was found among the gay, lesbian and bisexual population (31%) and among Americans ages 25 to 29 years (36%) and 30 to 39 years (28%). Regionally, people living in the West (20%) are more likely to have tattoos.

Democrats are more likely to have tattoos (18%) than Republicans (14%) and Independents (12%) while equal percentages of males (16%) and females (15%) have tattoos.

This survey was conducted online between July 14 and 20, 2003 by Harris Interactive^® among a nationwide sample of 2,215 adults.

Among Americans with tattoos, 34% said having a tattoo has made them feel sexier. Interestingly, more tattooed females (42%) feel this way than males (25%).

Additionally, those with tattoos said that having a tattoo has made them feel more rebellious (29%) while others said a tattoo makes them feel more attractive (26%). But tattoos apparently won't do much for your intelligence or your physique, as few Americans reported that tattoos make them feel more intelligent (5%), more healthy (4%), or more athletic (3%).

Many Americans who do not have tattoos said they think that people with tattoos are less attractive (42%), less sexy (36%) and less intelligent (31%). They also think that those with tattoos are more rebellious (57%). In contrast, only 29% of those with tattoos think they are more rebellious.

A majority of Americans with tattoos (83%) do not regret getting them, while 17% do feel regret. The survey found that regret for getting a tattoo was highest among tattooed Republicans (24%) and among those living in the South (21%). And, the reason cited most often for feeling regret about getting tattoos was "because of the person’s name in the tattoo" (16%).

"How many tattoos do you currently have on your body?"

(People saying "one or more")

Base: All Adults

"Do you ever regret getting a tattoo?"

Base: Currently Have a Tattoo

"Why do you regret getting a tattoo?"

Base: Yes, Regret Getting a Tattoo

"Please complete the following sentence: "Compared to not having a tattoo . . . having a tattoo has made me feel . . . ?"

Base: Currently Have a Tattoo

"Please complete the following sentence: "Compared to people without tattoos, I think people with tattoos are . . . ?"

Base: All Without Tattoos