How many males are circumcised?

Answer 1

The vast majority of men in the world are genitally intact (not circumcised). In most of the world circumcision is rarely practiced. For example in most of Europe, South America, Central America, Africa, and Asia, probably 98 out of 100 men would be intact. However, in some countries a small minority of the population is circumcised. For example in places like Canada and Australia, around 10% of newborn babies are circumcised.

Circumcision is very common in Israel, where there is a large Jewish population. Circumcision is also practiced among some, but not all, Muslims.

In the United States 25 years ago, the vast majority of men were circumcised, but today a minority of infants are circumcised. Circumcision rates have been falling in the United States since the 1970s. In the 1980s, over 80% of newborn male infants were circumcised. By 2007, when the most recent data from the American Academy of Pediatrics was released, less than 40% of newborn male infants were circumcised, meaning that of boys born today in the United States, more are genitally intact then circumcised.

Circumcision rates vary widely by region in the United States. In the Midwest and southeast, circumcision rates remain as high as 65%, while in the western united states, circumcision rates are generally well below 25%.