Adobe has just released its Global Emoji Diversity & Inclusion Report, exploring how people are using diverse emojis to communicate, why they matter, and how they can spark positive change by addressing the critical gaps in representation today. Surveying 7,000 global emoji users, the report unpacks the importance and impact of diversity and representation in emojis for self-expression and identity.
An emoji is worth a thousand words, but only if you can find the right one 
🏽
- Emojis have evolved to help us fill in the emotional gaps when expressing ourselves online. It is more important than ever to see ourselves represented within the emoji library so we can accurately express ourselves.
- 83% of global emoji users agree that emojis should continue to strive for more inclusive representation of individuals and their communities.
Making emojis more representative of different cultures 🧕, ages 🏾, and ethnicities 
- Culture is the top category of emoji that respondents want to see more inclusion in, followed by age and race/ethnicity. This is especially the case for multilingual respondents and Gen Z-ers.
- Currently, only54% of global emoji users feel that their identity is adequately reflected in current emoji options.
People with disabilities feel considerably left out ♿
- Emojis need to make inroads to help persons with disabilities feel more enabled. Only 37% of emoji users with a disability or impairment feel represented in the currently available emojis.
- Some respondents with a disability would like to see expanded emojis that show more “helping objects” – building on recent additions such as a wheelchair
🦼, cane
🏽🦯, or items like hearing aids 🦻.
Customization is key 
- Customization of emojis has made the medium more inclusive, but there is an appetite for more personalization. Hairstyle or hair color, accessories, body type, and eye color are the top customization options emoji users say would better reflect their personal appearance.
- While 55% of global emoji users customize their emoji, 58% of respondents wish they had more emoji customization options to better reflect their personal identities.
- 78% of global emoji users also feel that more emoji customization options can address gaps in inclusion.
A more inclusive library of emoji 
could lead to a more inclusive world 
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- Despite the challenges that remain in making emojis more inclusive, the vast majority of people believe emojis actually have the power to create positive change in the world around us.
- 77% of Gen Z-s and 75% of Millennials said that inclusive emojis can spark positive conversations about societal issues.
But which gender and culturally inclusive emojis are users most excited to see in the near future?
It’s a person feeding a baby , bubble tea
, and person in tuxedo
Additionally, Adobe is proud to partner with Emojination, a grassroots organization that advocates for more inclusive emojis, to champion the creation of more representative emojis for people around the world.
To find out more about how emojis can change our future, read the full Global Emoji Diversity & Inclusion Report here.
