Searching for interesting left handed facts? Within this article, you’ll discover 25 incredible facts about left-handed people, from the funny to the weird, and everything in between!
In compiling this list, I looked into some of the most commonly shared lefty facts found across the internet. Some are surprisingly true, while others don’t quite hold up under scrutiny. Alongside each fact, I’ve included links to studies that back up (or refute!) the claims.
One really interesting factoid that I resonated with was from a scientist who believed that left handed people tended to be more independent as a result of having to adapt to a world that is largely built for right-handed individuals.
Here are a few more fascinating left handed people facts!
Left Handed People Facts
1. Lefties Make Up 12% of the Population
Roughly 12% of the world is left handed, 87% right handed, and 1% ambidextrous. However, the percentage of lefties worldwide is slowly creeping up as being left handed becomes more socially accepted.
Believe it or not, to this day, some countries still try to force children to learn to write with their right hand! For example, in 1860, when a left handed person was essentially seen as being in league with the devil, a 1992 study estimated that as little as 2% of the USA population was left handed.
The current 12% figure also varies by country and gender! Read my article ‘How many people are left handed?‘ to find out more.
We left handed guitarists are an even rarer breed! In a 2015 Reddit AMA, Paul Reed Smith (the owner of PRS Guitars) claimed that only 0.5% of guitarists play the instrument left-handed!
2. More Likely to Have Allergies
In a 1982 study by Norman Geschwind and Peter Behan, it was found that left-handed individuals had a statistically higher prevalence of immune disorders (including allergies, asthma, and autoimmune diseases) compared to right-handers.
A 1987 study by J.Smith found that left-handed people were about twice as likely to be found among allergy patients compared to right-handers, especially for conditions like eczema and hives.
3. More Prone to Migraines
In the same scientific 1982 study described above, it was also discovered that left handed people were roughly twice as likely to experience migraines when compared to right-handed people.
The research by Geschwind and Behan found that 28.7% of migraine sufferers in the study group were left-handed, more than double the rate expected in the general population
4. More Likely to Suffer Sleep Deprivation
Two bodies of research have suggested a possible link between left-handedness and increased susceptibility to sleep disturbances.
In 2022, a large-scale study of 1,764 adults found that non-right-handed individuals—including left-handers—tended to spend more time awake after initially falling asleep. Participants also reported greater daytime sleepiness, indicating poorer overall sleep quality.
A further 2011 study observed that 94% of left-handed individuals with Periodic Limb Movement Disorder experienced bilateral limb movements during sleep, compared to just 69% of right-handed individuals. These involuntary movements can significantly disrupt rest and contribute to sleep deprivation
So if you’re kicking your partner in bed while you sleep, now you know why!
5. More Likely To Use The Right Side Of The Brain For Certain Tasks
The brain is cross-wired, meaning that the right hemisphere controls the left side of the body and vice versa. This is the origin of the popular saying, “Only left-handed people are in their right minds,” though it’s more humorous than scientific.
The right hemisphere is often associated with spatial awareness, emotion, and creativity, while the left is more linked to language and logic. However, both sides of the brain work together in complex ways in all individuals.
The diagram below shows certain functions that are more commonly associated with one side of the brain than the other.
A transcranial Doppler ultrasound study of 326 healthy adults found that 27% of strong left-handers exhibited right-hemisphere dominance for language, compared to just 4% of strong right-handers
A large 2021 brain scan study (over 30,000 participants) found that about 20% of left-handers showed more symmetrical or right-leaning brain activity in movement-related areas, compared to just 5% of right-handers. This suggests greater variability in how left-handers’ brains are organized.
6. More Likely To Use Alcohol
Is there a hidden link between your dominant hand and your drinking habits? Some early research has explored how being left-handed might influence how—and how often—you drink.
A 1994 study found that about 15–20% of people with alcohol problems were left-handed, compared to around 10% in the general population, suggesting a possible link between left-handedness and alcoholism.
The study also noted more learning difficulties and unusual brain patterns in these individuals, hinting that brain development may play a role.
Similarly, a 1973 paper by psychologist Paul Bakan, ‘Left-handedness and Alcoholism‘ noted that a higher than expected number of patients in an alcoholism ward were left handed.
A large European study of over 27,000 adults found that left-handed people drank alcohol more frequently, but they were not more likely to drink heavily or be alcoholics, suggesting a (possible, but unconfirmed) difference in habits, not risk.
7. Are Left Handed People Smarter?
The connection between handedness and intelligence has long been debated, and the answer depends on how the data is interpreted.
A 2007 study titled “Effect of Handedness on Intelligence Level of Students” found that left-handed individuals were slightly more likely to score higher on IQ tests. However, a 2010 study, “The relationship between hand preference, hand performance, and general cognitive ability“, came to the opposite conclusion, suggesting a slight edge for right-handed individuals.
To help clarify these conflicting results, researchers from the University of Athens conducted a meta-analysis of multiple studies. Their findings showed that right-handed people had a slightly higher average IQ, just about 1.5 points higher. To put it in perspective, if the average IQ for a left-hander is 100, it would be about 101.5 for a right-hander—a difference too small to have any real-world significance.
In short, there is no meaningful link between handedness and intelligence. Both left- and right-handed people span the full range of cognitive ability.
One curious stat, though: Mensa, the high IQ society, reports that around 20% of its members are left-handed—well above the general population average of about 10%. While not proof of greater intelligence, it’s definitely an intriguing overrepresentation!
8. Tend to Reach Puberty 4 to 5 Months Later
This left-handed statistic has some scientific basis, but should be taken with caution — it’s more of an interesting hypothesis than a settled fact.
Karim and Kirkpatrick (1991) reported that left-handed boys tend to reach puberty approximately 4–5 months later than right-handed boys, although full bibliographic details are not available.
This study is referenced in secondary sources, but the original article was not accessible for direct verification.
9. More Likely to Suffer Language Problems?
You might’ve heard that left-handed people are more likely to have language problems—but that’s not exactly true. Some research has shown a small link between being non-right-handed (like using both hands for different tasks) and having issues like dyslexia or trouble with schoolwork.
For example, a study from Finland in 2009 found that kids who used both hands often (called mixed-handed) were around twice as likely to have language and learning difficulties. Another study from Norway in 1993 found that left-handed kids were a little more likely to have dyslexia, but this doesn’t mean being left-handed causes it.
So, while there’s some connection, it’s not a strong one, and most left-handed people don’t have any language problems at all.
10. More Likely to Be Male
According to the 2008 study ‘Sex differences in left-handedness: a meta-analysis of 144 studies‘, 23% more men are left handers.
This study compiled the data from 144 individual studies including a sample size of almost 2 million participants. So, it is generally accepted to be statistically relevant.
11. Better at Multi-Tasking
While the science is still developing, some research suggests that left-handed people may have an edge when it comes to juggling multiple tasks. A 2008 study by the Illinois Research Consortium found that left-handed participants performed better than right-handers when completing two tasks simultaneously.
Similarly, A 1991 study by Hiscock and colleagues found that during a dual-task challenge (tapping fingers while speaking), right-handed participants showed a 20% drop in motor performance, while left-handers showed little to no decline. This suggests that lefties may experience less interference when juggling verbal and physical tasks simultaneously.
The theory? Left-handers tend to use the right hemisphere of the brain more actively—linked to holistic thinking and pattern recognition—while right-handers often break problems down step by step. This whole-picture approach may give lefties a cognitive advantage in high-pressure or fast-paced multitasking scenarios.
12. Live on Average 9 Years Less than Righties?
You can breathe a sigh of relief, as this left handed statistic was later disproved. However, it is still widespread on the internet!
A flawed 1980s study that looked at 1000 deceased people from California showed that the average age at which right-handed subjects died was 75, whereas for lefties it was just 66.
The problem here is that the study assumes that the number of left handed people remained static over time. Many people born in the early 1900s were forced to write right-handed, and so would not have identified as being left handed at death.
As a result, the findings from this study have been largely discredited.
However, there has been some evidence to suggest that left handers are more likely to have minor accidents than their right handed counterparts. So we’re not quite out of the woods!
13. 39% Higher Odds of Being Homosexual
Studies have shown that homosexual people are about 39% more likely to be non-right-handed (left-handed or ambidextrous) compared to heterosexuals.
For example, a 2000 meta-analysis of over 23,000 participants found that homosexual individuals had about 39% higher odds of being non-right-handed. Another study in 2013 found that asexual individuals were roughly 2.5 times more likely to be left-handed than heterosexual people.
These findings suggest a small but consistent link between handedness and sexual orientation. This connection may be related to biological factors during early development, but does not imply cause and effect.
14. Recover From Strokes Faster
Around 95% of right-handed people have language centers in the left side of the brain, meaning a stroke often impairs speech. For left-handed people, only about 70% show left-side language dominance, with many having language functions spread more evenly across both hemispheres.
This more distributed brain organization can help lefties retain or recover language skills faster after a stroke affecting the left hemisphere. While not completely protected, research suggests left-handers may have greater neuroplasticity, aiding in language recovery post-stroke.
Definitely one of the facts about left handed people that is a major plus!
Left Handed Facts & Trivia
1. Left Handed Pens Are a Thing! Who Knew!?
They really do exist – click here to check them out.
Various designs are available, but the Maped Visio pens linked above have a special hooked tip to allow lefties to more easily see what they are writing.
The design also keeps the fingers further away from the tip. This, when coupled with quick-drying ink, means there is less chance of smudging.
I was recently gifted one myself. Although they do feel a little alien to begin with, persevere, and the design makes a lot of sense!
2. Have an Advantage In Certain Sports
Did you know left-handers have a real edge in sports like tennis, baseball, cricket, boxing, and fencing? It’s true—because most athletes train against righties, lefties bring a surprise factor that can throw off their opponents.
Studies show lefties are overrepresented among elite athletes in one-on-one sports—around 20–25% in tennis, even though they make up just 10–12% of the population.
Between 1968–1999, left-handers were 2-5× more likely to appear in tennis Grand Slam finals or rank in the world’s top 10. At the time, around 34% of male No.?1s were lefties.
Fun fact: Tennis legend Rafael Nadal is naturally right-handed but trained to play lefty for the advantage. Safe to say, it worked out pretty well for the Spaniard!
3. International Left Handed Day is August 13th
Every year on August 13th, we southpaws get our very own day to celebrate our uniqueness. The day is also supposed to help promote awareness of the problems that we experience living in a world designed for right-handers.
Find out more about international left handers day.
4. Draw Figures Facing the Right
According to the 2014 study ‘What affects facing direction in human facial profile drawing? A meta-analytic inquiry‘, left handed people mainly draw characters facing to the right. While right handed people were found to draw them facing to the left.
Try it yourself!
5. Are Left Handed People More Creative?
There’s some truth to the idea that left-handed people might have a creative edge.
A 2007 study found that artists and musicians were significantly more likely to be non-right-handed than the general population. Similarly, a 1977 study showed that over 20% of architects were left-handed—double the expected rate.
Researchers believe this may be linked to how lefties often use both sides of their brain more evenly, which could help them come up with original ideas or think in more flexible ways.
However, not all studies agree: a 2019 University of Oxford study found no strong connection between handedness and overall intelligence or creativity.
Still, the overrepresentation of lefties in creative fields is hard to ignore. So while being left-handed won’t make you a genius, it might just help you see the world a little differently—and that’s often where creativity begins.
6. Of the 9 Most Recent U.S Presidents, 4 Were Left Handed
A much higher-than-expected number of recent U.S presidents were southpaws:
Donald Trump (R), Joe Biden (R), Barack Obama (L), George W. Bush (R), Bill Clinton (L), George H. W. Bush (L), Ronald Reagan (R), Jimmy Carter (R), Gerald Ford (L).
Ronald Reagan was right-handed, though some believe he may have been naturally left-handed and trained to switch, as was common in his time. Gerald Ford was left-handed but demonstrated some ambidexterity, switching hands for various tasks.
7. Likely to Earn More Than Right-Handed People?
Do left-handed people earn more? It depends on the study.
A 2006 paper, Handedness and Earnings, found that left-handed male college graduates earned 15% more than their right-handed peers. However, a much larger 2014 Harvard study, The Wages of Sinistrality, found that left-handed people earned 10% less on average, linking left-handedness to slightly lower cognitive scores and more learning difficulties.
A 2016 lab study with students found no significant earnings difference by handedness—suggesting survey-based wage gaps may be due to external factors, not innate ability.
So while handedness may show some patterns in earnings, it’s likely that education, environment, and opportunity matter far more than which hand you write with.
8. Typing Advantages
Thanks to the layout of the QWERTY keyboard, over 3,000 English words can be typed using just the left hand—while only around 300 can be typed with the right hand alone!
This is because on a standard QWERTY keyboard, the left hand covers more letters (Q, W, E, R, T, A, S, D, F, G, Z, X, C, V, B) compared to the right hand (Y, U, I, O, P, H, J, K, L, N, M).
Bizarre Left Handed Statistics
Let’s switch things up and look at some of the more crazy facts about left handed people!
1. Some People Are Scared of Left-Handedness!
Sinistrophobia is defined as the fear of things on the left side, or left-handed people. Read my article about Sinistrophobia to find out more about this bizarre phobia.
Reading these left handed facts must really freak sufferers out!
2. Adjust to Seeing Underwater Quicker
This is a bizarre fact often cited on the internet, but there’s no solid scientific evidence to back it up.
While some claim that left-handers adapt more quickly due to differences in brain function, no peer-reviewed studies have confirmed this. For now, it remains an intriguing myth rather than a proven truth.
3. Less Able to Roll Their Tongue
According to a 1998 study, yes—only 62.8% of left-handers could do it, compared to 74.8% of right-handers. While the difference is statistically significant, tongue rolling isn’t purely genetic and may be influenced by a mix of factors.
Still, it’s a quirky fact worth knowing!
4. Nails Grow Faster on Your Dominant Hand
It’s probably not the most exciting left handed statistic, but fingernails tend to grow faster on your dominant hand. This is likely because its increased use causes micro-trauma that boosts blood flow and stimulates healing.
While the effect varies and isn’t always captured in strict clinical measurements, it’s widely recognized by dermatologists and supported by multiple sources.
More Left Handed People Facts!
Are you still thirsty for more left handed people facts? Well, here are a few links that I believe you may also like to check out.
- How Much Of A Lefty Are You? Take our 60 second test and find out!
- How Many People Are Left Handed? (More Than You Think!)
- 100+ Famous Left Handed People That Changed The World
- When Is National Left Handers Day?
- 14 Inspirational Left Handed Quotes
- Gift Ideas That Left Handed People Will LOVE
