In our last 100 vitamin quizzes, 52% of adults said they get low or minimal sun. That matters because your body makes vitamin D from sunlight on your skin, and only a small number of foods contain it.
The figures below cover 77 adults from that group.
How much sun people reported
| Sun exposure | Share of adults |
|---|---|
| Minimal | 17% |
| Low | 35% |
| Moderate | 31% |
| High | 17% |
Sunny country or not, the answers were close
You might expect this to depend on where people live. In our results, the gap was small:
| Location | Reported low or minimal sun |
|---|---|
| United States | 45% |
| Outside the United States | 55% |
Our results don't show why, but it's a useful reminder that living somewhere sunny doesn't mean you get much sun yourself.
Food often isn't filling the gap
The NHS says vitamin D is found in only a small number of foods, and oily fish such as salmon, sardines and mackerel are among them. In our results:
- 69% of adults said they eat fish or seafood rarely or never.
- 36% reported both low or minimal sun and rarely or never eating fish.
Fish isn't the only source. Egg yolks, red meat and fortified foods also contain vitamin D. But the NHS notes it's difficult to get enough from food alone.
Who should pay attention
According to the NHS, you may not make enough vitamin D from sunlight if you:
- aren't often outdoors
- usually wear clothes that cover most of your skin when outdoors
- have dark skin, for example an African, African-Caribbean or south Asian background
Season matters too. In the UK, the NHS says we don't make enough vitamin D from sunlight between October and early March. How this applies to you depends on where you live.
What to do next
- Check, don't guess. Reporting little sun doesn't mean you're low in vitamin D. Ask your doctor whether a blood test makes sense for you.
- Follow local advice on supplements. In the UK, the NHS says everyone should consider 10 micrograms a day in autumn and winter, and adults shouldn't take more than 100 micrograms a day.
- Protect your skin. The NHS advises covering up or protecting your skin during long periods in the sun, to reduce the risk of skin damage and skin cancer.
These results come from people who chose to take a vitamin quiz, so they don't show how much sun the wider population gets.
Curious whether your own habits put you at risk? Take the free quiz. It takes about 3 minutes and doesn't need a sign-up.