Are Boys Circumcised in Europe and America?

Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis. It is practised in many parts of the world. In Iran and many other Muslim communities, religious tradition is a major reason families circumcise their sons. The practice also has religious significance in Jewish communities. This article looks at whether boys are circumcised in Europe and America, what the reported figures measure, and why families make different decisions.

نسخهٔ فارسی مقاله (originally published in Farsi on 17 November 2022) · وەشانی کوردیی سۆرانی

Background to circumcision

Understanding the practice today means looking at its religious and cultural history. In many Muslim communities, parents have their sons circumcised at birth or during childhood as a religious duty. Families may also give medical reasons for the decision.

In Europe and the United States, the reasons vary by community and family. Some parents circumcise their sons as part of Muslim, Jewish or other family traditions. Others cite medical or health considerations. The historical figures below show how widely circumcision status can vary between populations, including within the Western countries discussed here.

Are boys circumcised in Europe and America?

Yes. The practice exists in both regions, and its prevalence varies widely. Morris and colleagues published two global estimates in 2016 which put male circumcision at roughly 37–39%. The estimates describe circumcision status. They do not establish the age at which the procedure took place.

The World Health Organization’s 2020 guidance addresses voluntary medical male circumcision for adolescent boys and men as part of HIV prevention in settings where heterosexual transmission is widespread. The question of consent for procedures in infancy or childhood is a separate concern raised by children’s rights advocates. The surveys and estimates below describe different populations, periods and methods.

• Iran: approximately 99.7%, a demographic estimate based on religious composition, published in 2016. Corrected Morris supplement
• Britain: 20.7% among men aged 16–74 in the national 2010–2012 survey. Natsal-3 analysis, published in 2015
• Spain: approximately 6.6% in the 2016 country table. The corrected supplement attributes the figure to local samples from Barcelona collected in 1985–1987.
• Norway: approximately 3%, a demographic estimate based on religious composition, published in 2016. Corrected Morris supplement
• Russia: approximately 11.8%, a demographic estimate based on religious composition, published in 2016. Corrected Morris supplement
• United States: 80.5% among males aged 14–59 in the 2005–2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Introcaso et al. (2013)
• Australia: 58% among males aged 16–64 in a 2005 survey. Ferris et al. (2010)
• South Africa: 44.7% among men aged 15–59 in the 2003 national survey. Demographic and Health Survey, table 5.17
• Brazil: 1.3% estimated from records of procedures performed for medical reasons in the public health system during 1984–2010. Korkes et al. (2012)

Why circumcision is practised in the United States and parts of Europe

Religion and health are two reasons families give. In some communities, circumcision is a religious or family tradition. Other families cite expected health benefits or a medical indication. The U.S. study also reported differences between demographic groups. Its national figure applies to the age range and years of the survey.

The original article also raises questions about how advertising, commercial interests and businesses associated with circumcision ceremonies shape the information available to parents. Claims about protection from sexually transmitted infections need to specify the infection and the setting. The WHO guidance discusses partial protection from heterosexually acquired HIV in the populations it covers.

Expert views, children’s rights and consent

Some experts and children’s rights advocates argue that circumcising a child who is too young to consent infringes on bodily autonomy. Other debates concern sexual sensitivity and satisfaction. The original article discusses concerns raised by opponents about the loss of foreskin and changes in sensation. The evidence on sexual function varies by study and by the outcomes measured. The British Natsal-3 analysis, for example, found no association with overall sexual function at the population level.

Parents need reliable information when considering the procedure. One position treats the decision as a matter for parents. Advocates for the child’s right to decide argue that a non-medical procedure should be deferred until the person can make an informed choice, with some proposing age 18. These different views raise a central question about who should decide and when.