Olive skin is a human skin tone. It is often associated with pigmentation in the Type III, Type IV, and Type V ranges of the Fitzpatrick scale. It generally refers to moderate or lighter tan or brownish skin, and it is often described as having tan, brown, cream, greenish, yellowish, or golden undertones. People with olive skin can sometimes become paler if their sun exposure is limited. However, lighter olive skin still tans more easily than light skin does, and generally still retains notable yellow or greenish undertones.

Geographic distribution

Type III pigmentation is frequent among populations from the Mediterranean region, Southern Europe, North Africa, the Near East and West Asia, parts of the Americas, East Asia and Central Asia. It ranges from cream or dark cream to darker olive or light brown skin tones. This skin type sometimes burns and tans gradually, but always tans. Type IV pigmentation is frequent among some populations from the Mediterranean, including Southern Europe, North Africa and West Asia, South Asia, Austronesia, Latin America, and parts of East Asia. It ranges from brownish or darker olive to moderate brown, typical Mediterranean skin tones. This skin type rarely burns and tans easily. Type V pigmentation is found among some populations in Southwest Asia, and including a few regions of North Africa. It is frequent among select indigenous populations of Latin America, parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia. It ranges from olive to brown skin tones. This skin type very rarely burns and tans quite easily.