Quick Answer
How many men have beards in 2025?
44% of men worldwide today have full beards.
This article will address that and some other interesting statistics and facts you need to know.
Beards are the focus of this article, so whether you have a beard, don’t have a beard, or are thinking about trying a beard, you should find these facts interesting.
Men have worn beards for centuries. Having facial hair is one of those on-again, off-again trends that occur over the years.
Some men keep a beard during certain seasons, some year-round, and some shave when it gets hot outside.
Facial hair can range from a simple mustache to a full, bushy, luxurious beard.
There are many different types of beards, and many different perceptions. Could beards have health benefits and drawbacks?
Let’s find out what the beard statistics say.
Key Beard Statistics 2024
- An estimated 75% of men in America claim to feel more confident with a beard.
- 33% of American males say they always keep a beard.
- It can take between two and six months to grow a full beard.
- 73% of male survey participants said that facial hair makes them feel more attractive than a bare face.
- 23.6% of men surveyed said that the inability to grow a beard makes them feel less masculine.
- By 2026, the global beard grooming market is estimated to reach $43.1 billion.
- 44% of men worldwide today have full beards.
- The average growth of a man’s beard in one year is 5.5 inches.
- 41% of women found clean shaven men most attractive.
- 90% of HR professionals claimed they believe that a clean-shaven face makes a stronger impression.
General Facial Hair and Beard Statistics 2024
We have gathered some facts and stats about beards that are interesting whether you have a beard, want a beard, don’t like beards, or are females who can’t resist a man with a beard.
1. An Estimated 75% of Men in America Claim to Feel More Confident with A Beard.
In a survey of 2,000 Americans with facial hair, about 75% of them said they feel more confident when they have facial hair over having no facial hair.
Furthermore, an Honest Amish poll revealed that when men ranked their happiness levels for having a beard, the average man ranked their happiness a 6 out of 10.
However, these men also had some complaints about having facial hair.
The most common complaints referred to beard patchiness at 42% and uneven color at 31%.
To get the perfect beard, 40% of men said they would give up coffee or spend a night in jail if it meant getting a perfect beard.
2. 33% of American Males Say They Always Keep a Beard.
How many men have beards in 2025?
Well, in a survey of US males, 33% said they always had a beard. Another 27% said they sometimes have a beard, and 40% said they don’t have a beard.
Another 55% of men across the globe have facial hair.
3. It Can Take Between Two and Six Months to Grow a Full Beard.
Since there is no way to give a precise answer to how long it takes for a man to grow a full beard, we have a time range.
Genetics play a major role in how fast and how well a beard will grow. Generally, it takes between two and six months to grow a full beard.
4. 73% of Male Survey Participants Said that Facial Hair Makes Them Feel More Attractive than A Bare Face.
As for female respondents, 63% said that they thought men were more attractive with facial hair. Overall, beards seem to be very popular among everyone.
5. 23.6% of Men Surveyed Said that The Inability to Grow a Beard Makes Them Feel Less Masculine.
One of the reasons some men choose to get beard transplants is because the inability to grow a natural beard makes them feel less masculine.
That isn’t how it works, but feelings are unpredictable.
6. By 2026, the Global Beard Grooming Market Is Estimated to Reach $43.1 Billion.
In 2018, the global beard grooming market had a value of $29.6 billion, according to statistics from Allied Market Research.
Beard grooming products like beard oil, shampoo, beard wax, shaving cream, razors, beard trimmers, shaving gel, and others are included in the expected growth of this market.
7. 44% of Men Today Have Full Beards.
What percentage of men have beards?
Five years ago, only 29% of men had full beards. Most of the growth in facial hair accounts for all beards.
The statistics show that 40% of men have unshaven stubble. In contrast, the percentage of men with stubble was 52%.
8. The Average Growth of A Man’s Beard in One Year Is 5.5 Inches.
Likewise, if a man stopped shaving for the rest of his life, he could grow a 30-foot long beard in his lifetime.
Men without beards spend more than 3,000 hours of their lives shaving.
The world’s longest beard ever was 17.5 inches long and belonged to Hans Langseth.
This statistic was recorded in 1927. The average man has 30,000 whiskers on their face.
Beard Statistics from Women’s Perspective
Now that we have the statistics about how men feel more confident and attractive with facial hair, we can see how women feel about it next.
Let’s see if men with facial hair look confident and attractive to women.
9. Women Say that Men with Heavy Stubble on Their Faces Are the Most Attractive.
When women were asked if they thought men with beards were more attractive, they had several choices.
They were to base their opinions on whether they thought clean-shaven faces, light stubble, heavy beards, full beards, or heavy stubble was more attractive on men.
They chose men with heavy stubble as the most attractive and clean-shaven men, or men with light stubble as the least attractive.
These tests were quantified regarding masculinity, parenting abilities, health, and other factors.
10. Women Earning $100,000 or More Annually Found Beards Less Attractive.
A study of how women view facial hair on men included the income demographic. Women making $100,000 a year or more find beards unattractive by 31%.
Only 18% of women making less than $100,000 per year felt the same way.
11. Women Engaging in Casual Relations with Men Prefer Light Stubble Over a Full Beard.
The study showed that women see a fully bearded man as father material, but those with light stubble for casual flings.
These statistics reveal how women perceive men with beards.
If they are looking for a serious relationship, they are more likely to choose a man with a full beard.
12. 41% of Women Found Clean Shaven Men Most Attractive.
Based on this same survey, 14% of females found men with a beard and mustache most attractive.
Only 4% of women thought men with only a beard were most attractive, and 8% of women felt men with only a mustache were most attractive. Women who were unsure accounted for 33% of survey respondents.
13. in 2017, 12.5% of Female Survey Respondents Said that They Thought a Beard Made the Manliest Look.
According to The Economist, 12.5% of women think that men with beards look the manliest. Another 17% preferred men with a beard and mustache.
Moreover, 7% of women said that men with mustaches are the most masculine.
The study’s conclusion stated that the more facial hair a man has, the more attractive he becomes to a woman, especially during their fertile stage of menses.
Beard Perception Statistics
No matter who you are, or where you live, there will always be people with perceptions about how you look.
Beards are no exception. Let’s look at how facial hair is perceived by society.
14. One Study Revealed that Gay Men, More than Straight Women, Prefer Facial Hair.
This study was published in the Journal of Evolution and Human Behavior in 2021.
The survey was done across 1,577 men and women from the Czech Republic and Brazil. The conclusion was that gay men think facial hair is attractive.
15. 77% of Those Asked Said a Beard Makes neither A Favorable or Unfavorable Impression.
A YouGov study showed that 15% of those asked said they have a less favorable impression of a man wearing a beard, while 8% said they have a more favorable impression.
It also seems that young people aged 18 to 29 have a more favorable impression of men wearing beards.
In a study where participants looked at pictures of men with beards making different facial expressions, it was concluded that men with beards appeared more aggressive and angry.
However, they also said they were more prosocial, which relates to a positive impression of being helpful and friendly.
What this means is men with beards have different expressions that may accentuate the emotion.
17. Beards Add About 8 Years to A Man’s Appearance.
A study performed in 2013 showed participants photos of celebrities with a beard and clean-shaved. They were asked to guess their ages with and without a beard.
The conclusion was that the celebrities in the pictures with beards looked about 8 years older than those in their clean-shaven images.
We can see where this could be a valid conclusion since teens males who can grow facial hair, do look more mature with a beard than without.
18. 90% of Hr Professionals Claimed They Believe that A Clean-Shaven Face Makes a Stronger Impression.
These statistics are related to the workplace environment.
These HR professionals also think that clean-shaven, well-groomed employees move up the corporate ladder faster by 84%.
Beard Myths and Facts
Unfortunately, there are several myths about beards that have made it into this beard statistics article.
Some of these are related to health, so read them all.
19. True: Men’s Beards Have More Germs than In Dogs’ Hair.
One study in 2019 showed that bacteria levels in men’s facial hair are significantly higher compared to dog fur.
Fur from 30 different dog breeds and beard hair from 18 different men were tested for germs.
The conclusion stated that all the men’s beards had high microbial counts, while 23 out of the 30 dog furs tested had high microbial counts, with the other 7 containing moderate levels.
20. Myth: Men’s Beards Grow Faster After Shaving.
If you’re hoping your beard will grow faster and thicker after shaving, you will be disappointed.
This is a beard myth, and not what statistics show.
The only thing that shaving does for your beard is make it look well-groomed, neat, and uniform.
21. Myth: Beards Are Dirtier than A Toilet.
While beards have a lot of bacteria in them when they aren’t maintained and the wearer doesn’t use good hygiene, it’s not true that beards are dirtier than toilets.
A 2014 study published in the Journal of Hospital Infection, supports the fact that growing a beard poses no health hazard.
That said, you need to use good grooming habits.
22. Myth: Growing a Beard Can Make You Go Bald.
You’ll be happy to know that there is no scientific evidence that you will go bald if you grow a beard.
Beard growth has absolutely no impact on your scalp hair growth.
The study also showed that men with higher testosterone levels grow thicker beards, which has led to some people buying testosterone boosters for beard growth.
Also, your scalp hair doesn’t impact your ability to grow a beard.
23. Myth: Beard Oil Can Make Your Beard Grow Faster.
Unfortunately, beard oil is just part of a good beard grooming routine and has nothing to do with beard hair growth or thickness.
Beard oil may help keep your beard soft and smooth, but that’s all it can do.
24. Myth: Rubbing Your Skin Will Help Beard Growth.
Once again, there is no magic massage that’s going to help your beard grow any faster or thicker.
If anything, rubbing your beard will cause facial irritation, itching, and redness from the dirt and oils on your hands.
As a result, you could develop acne or ingrown hairs, but no chin hair.
Beards And Your Health Statistics & Facts
There are several beard statistics related to your health.
Are beards beneficial to your health and wellness? Let’s see if that’s true.
25. Beards Help Maintain Natural Skin Moisture to Help Avoid Dry Skin Problems.
Beard facts show that growing a beard can help you avoid dry skin. Since your skin is prone to generating natural oils, that helps keep your beard soft.
In case you never noticed, men without beards often need moisturizers to protect them from dry skin problems.
26. Growing a Beard May Help with Allergies.
Research by a group of doctors in New York at the Allergy & Asthma Care of New York complex showed that having a beard can capture allergens and dust that trigger allergies before they get to your nose and throat.
27. Beards Can Help Fight Infections.
From a publication in the Journal of Hospital Infection, it was revealed that clean-shaven hospital staff members are more likely to carry the MRSA bacteria than staff members with a beard.
How did they learn that? They took swabs from 408 of their hospital staff members, some with and some without beards.
They believe this is because shaving creates tiny cuts in the skin that cause bleeding, which is enough for bacteria to thrive.
28. A Beard Can Prevent Some Skin Problems.
This is good news for people who experience acne on their face and neck. This is more than just covering up the acne and rashes associated with it.
It’s also about avoiding rashes from shaving. Men with acne who shave regularly, run the risk of more cuts, acne, and infections.
29. Having a Beard Can Help Slow Aging.
Damage from the sun is one of the primary causes of aging skin, especially premature aging skin.
A beard protects your face from harmful UV rays that can make your skin look dull and tired.
30. Having a Beard in The Winter Helps Keep You Warmer.
Besides protecting your skin from harsh weather conditions like cold winds, beards help keep you warmer in the winter.
Also, the longer your beard the better for the winter environment because it can also help you prevent catching colds, or the flu.
FAQs
What Is Pogonophobia?
Pogonophobia is the fear of beards. While rare, this is a real phobia that affects 12% of adults and 19% of teens in America.
The symptoms include sweating, irregular heartbeat, nausea, and feelings of dread.
Is It True that Beards Used to Be Taxed?
Yes. Beards were once taxed. Back in 1535, King Henry VII of England, a bearded man, decided to put a tax on beards.
It was a graduated tax that was taxed according to a person’s social status.
What Are Some Different Beard Types?
Facial hair comes in a variety of styles. There may not be as many things to do with beards as with scalp hair, but there are still different types of beards.
Facial hair can be short stubble, long stubble, full beard, mustaches, goatee, or a circle beard.
Some 2022 trending beard styles include the tapered beard, power beard complete with mustache, Van Dyke beard, hairy face with bald head, beard fade, trimmed beard, gray beard, short boxed beard, stubble beards.
Why Do Men Grow Beards?
Researchers and historians believe that beards are part of instinctual behaviors.
One factor is that beards are thought to help men stand out from their competitors, making them more attractive to potential partners. Men have been growing beards since biblical times.
Men are hunter-gatherers by instinct, which is probably why you see men who don’t wear a beard all year grow one for hunting season.
Is Having Facial Hair or A Beard Unprofessional?
If you have a well-groomed and clean beard, it’s not unprofessional.
Also, it depends on your profession. Some professions may be geared toward having a beard more than others.
For instance, men who work outdoors can save their skin by having a beard.
There is nothing that says facial hair of any kind is unprofessional, though when it’s unkempt, that’s not going to make a good impression, is it?
Every workplace has its own policies and rules about having facial hair. There are a few jobs where it’s not safe to have a beard.
In some cases, a company will hire a person with a beard for their qualifications and provide safety precautions to offset insurance costs.
What Is Pogonophobia?
Pogonophobia is the fear of beards. While rare, this is a real phobia that affects 12% of adults and 19% of teens in America.
The symptoms include sweating, irregular heartbeat, nausea, and feelings of dread.
Is It True that Beards Used to Be Taxed?
Yes. Beards were once taxed. Back in 1535, King Henry VII of England, a bearded man, decided to put a tax on beards. It was a graduated tax that was taxed according to a person’s social status.
What Are Some Different Beard Types?
Facial hair comes in a variety of styles. There may not be as many things to do with beards as with scalp hair, but there are still different types of beards.
Facial hair can be short stubble, long stubble, full beard, mustaches, goatee, or a circle beard.
Some trending beard styles include the tapered beard, power beard complete with mustache, Van Dyke beard, hairy face with bald head, beard fade, trimmed beard, gray beard, short boxed beard, stubble beards.
Why Do Men Grow Beards?
Researchers and historians believe that beards are part of instinctual behaviors.
One factor is that beards are thought to help men stand out from their competitors, making them more attractive to potential partners.
Men have been growing beards since biblical times. Men are hunter-gatherers by instinct, which is probably why you see men who don’t wear a beard all year grow one for hunting season.
Is Having Facial Hair or A Beard Unprofessional?
If you have a well-groomed and clean beard, it’s not unprofessional. Also, it depends on your profession.
Some professions may be geared toward having a beard more than others. For instance, men who work outdoors can save their skin by having a beard.
There is nothing that says facial hair of any kind is unprofessional, though when it’s unkempt, that’s not going to make a good impression, is it?
Every workplace has its own policies and rules about having facial hair. There are a few jobs where it’s not safe to have a beard.
In some cases, a company will hire a person with a beard for their qualifications and provide safety precautions to offset insurance costs.
Conclusion
These are the beard statistics that can help you decide whether you want to wear a beard or not.
It can also help you decide if you think a beard is more attractive than being clean-shaven.
Having a beard, and the perceptions and opinions based on beards are personal preferences.
It’s ultimately up to each person to decide if they want a beard or facial hair of any kind.
Did you know that beards have been held as symbols of wisdom, courage, dignity, and strength in some cultures and times?
A full-length beard is considered a symbol of respect, stature, honor, and wisdom among the Amish.
Philosophers like Socrates and Marcus Aurelius had beards when they were symbols of wisdom.
Either beards were considered symbols of wisdom, or these philosophers made that idea come to life.
So, depending on your culture, a beard can symbolize dominance, prestige, virility, and all the things they have symbolized over the years.
In contrast to all these statistics and facts, 98% of Forbes lists of the world’s richest men are clean-shaven.
Is that discrimination against beards, or more likely, a trend among men with loads of money?
Do you have a beard? are you thinking of growing a beard? What is your perception of beards and professionalism?
