Are There Truly Unmixed White People in the World?

With the evolving understanding of human genetics and ancestry, the traditional categorization of ethnic groups is increasingly challenged. This article delves into the concept of unmixed white people and explores the realities of the global population.

What Defines Ethnic Whites?

The term "white" or "ethnic whites" generally refers to people who are of European ancestry or their descendants. However, the question of whether there are truly unmixed white people, or those who have no non-European ancestry, becomes much more complex when considering genetic diversity and migration patterns.

Global Demographics and the Global Population

According to the United Nations’ data, the global population as of 2022 is approximately 7.9 billion people. The European population, which traditionally falls under the "white" category, constitutes only about 10% of the world's population. This percentage has been decreasing over the past few decades due to immigration and changes in birth rates.

It is important to note that the term "white" is often used as a marker for a range of Caucasoid features and cultural background. However, defining unmixed whites becomes nearly impossible when looking at genetic makeup and historical migrations.

The Global Mosaic of Ancestry

The so-called unmixed whites are not as pure as the term might suggest. As Europeans migrated and coalesced, they intermixed with various populations, including indigenous peoples, other European groups, and eventually peoples from central Asia and farther east. For example, the Polynesians of New Zealand have a Scandinavian ancestor line, while many Europeans can trace significant DNA from North Africans.

Consider the case of the Irish, who have documented a mix with Norwegian Vikings. However, this genetic contribution is too old and too intermixed to be visible in modern DNA tests. Similarly, the Indigenous peoples of America, whom Europeans intermixed with, also had complex genetic origins.

The Science Behind Unmixed People

Scientific research has shown that there are no truly unmixed populations. Melanin, which determines skin color, is a continuous gradient rather than a strict dichotomy. Lighter-skinned individuals have less melanin, but this does not turn them into a different race.

Dr. Uta Franke, a geneticist, states, "All human beings have the same genome and the same genes. It's just the variations in the genes that make us different."

Genetic Ancestry and Modern Times

In the early 20th century, the idea of unmixed races was widely accepted. However, modern DNA analysis has shattered this notion, revealing that genetic diversity is the norm. According to a 2015 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, most people have a mix of ancestry that dates back thousands of years.

Furthermore, with the breakdown of racial prejudices over the past three decades, intermarriage has become more common. Many people now identify with multiple racial or ethnic backgrounds, further complicating the concept of unmixed white people.

According to a U.S. Census Bureau report, in 2020, 7% of Americans identified as multiracial. This figure is expected to rise in the coming years.

Contemporary DNA Test Results

A common misconception is that many "white" individuals are pure Europeans. However, DNA tests often reveal that even those claiming unmixed ancestry have some non-European genetic contributions. For example, those who test close to 100% European often have over 98% European ancestry, which is still a significant degree of intermixing.

A 2019 study published in Genetics analyzed over 1,000 individuals and found that the vast majority had admixture from other populations, including Native Americans, Africans, and Asians.

Conclusion

While the concept of unmixed white people is an idealized one, the reality is that all populations, including Europeans, are a result of complex historical and genetic interactions. The global population is a mosaic of diverse ancestries, and the term "white" is merely a sociocultural construct that does not accurately reflect biological reality.

The study of human genetics has shown that we are all variations of brown, a spectrum of melanin levels, rather than distinct "races." As society continues to evolve, our understanding of human diversity will become even more nuanced.