The most common type of fingerprint is the loop. Multiple sources confirm this. Loop fingerprints are characterized by ridges that enter and exit on the same side of the finger, forming a loop-like pattern.
Types of Fingerprints and Their Prevalence
While there's some variation in the exact percentages reported across different studies, the general consensus points to loops as the most frequent fingerprint type. Several sources highlight the following:
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Loops: Consistently identified as the most common, with estimates ranging from 60% to 70% of the population possessing this pattern. This includes both radial loops (opening toward the thumb) and ulnar loops (opening toward the little finger). Security Journal Americas estimates radial loops to make up around 65% of all fingerprint patterns. Attorney at Law Magazine also states that 60 to 70 percent of the population have this pattern.
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Whorls: These patterns form circular or spiral shapes and are a less frequent type than loops. Studies show they represent approximately 30-35% of the population. NCBI shows that whorls made up 35% of the fingerprints in one particular study.
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Arches: These are the least common, with only a small percentage of the population (around 5%) displaying this type of fingerprint pattern. The ridges in an arch pattern run from one side of the finger to the other, rising slightly in the center. NCBI reported that arches made up 6% of the fingerprints in their study.
The precise percentages might vary slightly depending on the study population and methodology, but the relative frequency consistently places loops as the dominant fingerprint type. The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry also notes that loops are the most common type of fingerprint, with the ridges forming elongated loops. Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
