Which European country has the most Neanderthal DNA?

It’s not who you think — and yes, it’s kind of weird

You’d think the answer to this would be straightforward, right? Like, surely it’s somewhere in Germany or France, maybe the Balkans… places dripping with prehistoric caves and cave art.

Nope.

When I first dug into this (no pun intended), I had this chat with my friend Lucy — total history nerd — and she goes:
"Bet it’s Croatia. All those fossils in Vindija cave? Has to be."

Well, spoiler alert: not quite.

A quick look at how we even know this stuff

Thanks to genome mapping and a Nobel Prize (literally)

The ability to detect Neanderthal DNA in modern humans comes from mind-blowing genetic research — mainly sparked by the work of Svante Pääbo, who actually won the Nobel Prize for this stuff. Basically, scientists sequenced the Neanderthal genome (from bones in caves like Vindija, yup) and compared it to modern humans.

• On average, non-African humans carry between 1–2.5% Neanderthal DNA

• This isn’t “caveman stuff” like people joke about — we’re talking real, functional genes that affect skin, immunity, and even mood

• And get this — some Neanderthal DNA increases your risk of COVID-19 complications (what even...)

So who’s got the most?

Drumroll, please: Which country tops the chart?

The answer is actually… Romania

Yup. Romanians, according to several genetic studies, tend to have slightly higher-than-average levels of Neanderthal DNA compared to other Europeans.
And it makes sense in a weird way — Romania is near major archaeological sites (like Pestera cu Oase), where some of the oldest anatomically modern humans in Europe have been found, interbreeding with Neanderthals.

But it’s not just Romania.

• People from Eastern and Central Europe (like Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia) tend to have higher Neanderthal DNA

• Basques in Spain and some UK populations are up there too, but not quite as high

• Scandinavians? Surprisingly average!

It’s subtle, though. We’re talking like fractions of a percent in difference — but still, it’s enough to show up in DNA databases like 23andMe or Ancestry.

So... does this mean anything for your daily life?

Kinda. But don’t blame Neanderthals for your bad mood

This is where it gets tricky. Having more Neanderthal DNA doesn’t mean you’re “less evolved” or anything ridiculous like that. It’s more like:

• You might have a slightly different immune system

• Maybe you’re more sensitive to pain or changes in temperature

• There’s even some correlation with sleep patterns and nicotine addiction

I actually checked my own DNA through one of those online kits (was bored during lockdown, don't judge me) — and it told me I had “more Neanderthal variants than 78% of users.” My first reaction was: "Cool." Then: "Wait... should I be worried?"
But nah — it’s more fun than functional. Think of it as genetic seasoning, not your core personality.

A little anecdote: my embarrassing misunderstanding

Okay, true story — I once told someone at a dinner party that “Neanderthals went extinct because they weren’t smart enough.”
Big mistake.
The host (a biologist, of course) gave me a look like I’d just said the moon was made of cheese.

Turns out Neanderthals had tools, buried their dead, made art… they were just as complex as early Homo sapiens in many ways.
And they didn’t disappear because they were dumb — we interbred with them and absorbed them.
So if anything, they’re still here — in our genes.

Final thoughts: What your DNA doesn’t tell you

So, if you’re Romanian or from Eastern Europe, you might just be carrying a bigger slice of that ancient pie.
But does it change who you are?

Not really.
Still, it’s kind of wild to think that somewhere deep in your code, a Neanderthal left a little fingerprint. A quiet legacy.

And the next time someone calls you a caveman in traffic?
Maybe just smile — and say, "Statistically speaking, you too."

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