Spain ranks first in the world for the proportion of men suffering from baldness. According to World Population Review, 44.5% of Spanish men face this issue. This figure is the highest among all countries, distinguishing Spain not only for its cultural heritage but also for its health-related statistics.
Mediterranean leadership
Italy and France take second and third place in the global ranking—44.37% and 44.25% respectively. All three countries are located in the Mediterranean region, where specialists believe that a Western lifestyle and dietary habits may intensify the effects of genetic predisposition to baldness. Age factors also play a role: the average age of men in Spain is higher than in many countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.Genetics and risk factors
The main cause of widespread alopecia is identified as the sensitivity of hair follicles to the hormone DHT, which is formed from testosterone. European populations are more likely to have genetic variants associated with this mechanism. However, as studies note, certain habits and living conditions can accelerate hair loss in those already predisposed to baldness. Such factors include chronic stress, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and deficiencies in vitamins D and B12, which are characteristic of Western countries.Symptoms and recommendations
The signs of early-stage alopecia include unusually heavy hair loss, itching, irritation or redness of the scalp, as well as a gradual increase in the size of the forehead due to the disappearance of hair along the hairline. If you notice such symptoms, experts recommend not postponing a visit to the doctor to rule out skin diseases or fungal infections.Health and genetics issues are regularly the subject of public discussion in Spain. For example, earlier attention was drawn to a study on how the country’s residents react to misconduct by politicians from their own party — you can read more about this in the article about tolerance of corruption in Europe.
