Tattoos are increasing popular among Israel’s younger generation, according to a survey by Hadassah Medical Organization subsidiary Hadassah Optimal medical center. The survey found that 15% of people aged 18-24 have tattoos.
13% of people aged 25-34 have tattoos, 3% of people aged 35-44, and almost no one aged 45-64. Altogether 6% of Israeli residents over 18 have tattoos. Tattoed men have an average of 1.8 tattoos and women 2.3.
Hadassah Optimal director Roni Kaufman said the survey found that 500,000 Israelis have tattoos. He estimated the tattoo market at NIS 25 million a year, and growing.
Newly religious people and those regretting their tattoos comprise the bulk of those seeking the removal of their tattoos. Kaufman estimated the tattoo removal market at NIS 7.5 million a year. 12% of people with tattoos regret them and want to have them removed. Keeping an unwanted tattoo is attributed to fear of pain, lack of time, and cost.
A tattoo costs a few hundred shekel, but removing it by laser costs an average of NIS 2,000.
46% of people with tattoos have two, 37% have one, 7% have three, and 10% have six or more. The most popular location for a tattoo is the shoulder (37%), followed by the back (28%), hand (17%), intimate parts (11%), foot (9%), abdomen (9%), leg (9%), and elsewhere (10%).
There are differences between the preferred locations for tattoos among men and the preferred locations among women. Among men, the commonest location for a tattoo is the shoulder (46%), whereas among women, it is the back (44%). 15% of women have tattoos on their intimate parts, twice as many as men.
Tattoos are more common among Israelis whose fathers immigrated from Asian and African countries (14%), than among Israelis whose fathers immigrated from European or American countries (6%).
Hadassah Optimal carried out the tattoo survey among 505 Israelis as part of the launch of its specialized laser tattoo removal clinic.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on November 10, 2005