The reason nearly all humans are right-handed
A new study suggests that the predominance of right-handedness in humans may be linked to evolutionary changes such as bipedalism and increased brain size. Researchers from the University of Oxford analyzed handedness across various primate species and found that humans exhibit a unique right-handed bias. The findings indicate that when considering factors like brain size and limb proportions, humans are not as exceptional in their handedness as previously thought.
- ▪Approximately 90% of humans are right-handed, a trait not seen in other primate species.
- ▪The study analyzed handedness in 41 species of monkeys and apes, involving 2,025 individuals.
- ▪Including brain size and limb proportions in their models helped explain the strong right-handedness in humans.
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The strange reason nearly all humans are right-handedA new primate analysis suggests upright walking and bigger brains shaped humanity’s strong right-handed bias. Written By: Hannah Shavit-Weiner/Edited By: Joseph ShavitPublished May 16, 2026 4:51 AM PDTOxford study links human right-handedness to bipedalism and larger brains across primate evolution. (CREDIT: Shutterstock) Share this storyRoughly nine out of 10 people favor their right hand, a pattern so common it can feel almost invisible. Yet in evolutionary terms, it is deeply strange. No other primate species comes close to showing such a strong, consistent population-wide bias.A new analysis suggests that this familiar human trait may have grown out of two of the biggest changes in our evolutionary history.
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