Potential single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of interleukin-4 receptor alpha (IL-4Rα) rs1801275 and rs1805015 have been implicated in glioma risk; however, the findings of previous published case-control studies are conflicting and inconclusive. We performed the updated meta-analysis with the aim to provide a more precise estimate for the role of interleukin-4Rα SNPs in glioma risk. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to evaluate the strength of the gene association. Overall, the pooled analysis showed that the IL-4Rα rs1801275 polymorphism was associated with a decreased risk of glioma in the comparison of G vs. A (OR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.76-0.99, P OR = 0.041). Subgroup analysis by ethnicity revealed that the IL-4Rα rs1801275 variant G and GG + AG exerted a decreased risk effect on the development of glioma among Asians, but not Caucasians (G vs. A, OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.69-0.95, P OR = 0.011; GG + AG vs. AA, OR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.66-0.96, P OR = 0.018). However, the IL-4Rα rs1805015 polymorphism did not modify the risk of glioma. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the reliability for all of the results. Our meta-analysis suggests that the polymorphism of IL-4Rα rs1801275 but not IL-4Rα rs1805015 plays a protective role in the glioma pathogenesis, particularly among Asians.