Olive skin is ahuman skin tone, roughly corresponding to Types III, IV, and V on theFitzpatrick scale of pigmentation.^[1][2][3][4] The term describes lighter brown tones with greenish, yellowish, or golden undertones, such as thelight tan.^{[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][excessive citations]}

People with olive skin can sometimes become paler if theirsun exposure is limited. However, olive skin stilltans more easily thanlight skin does, and generally still retains notable greenish or yellowish undertones.^[14][15][16]

TheOxford English Dictionary indicates that the term "olive" has been used to describe skin color since at least the 17th century. The earliest recorded instance occurs in the writings of the English travellerThomas Coryat, who said of the Mughal EmperorJahangir, "Hee is of complexion neither white nor blacke, but of a middle betwixt the[m]: I know not how to expresse it with a more expressiue & significantephitheton then Oliue: an Oliue colour his face presenteth[.]"^[17][18]

Type III pigmentation is frequent among populations from theMediterranean region andWest Asia, as well asEast Asia,Central Asia, and parts ofthe Americas. It can also be found sporadically inNorthern Europe, giving groups such as the "Black Irish"^{[19][20][1][21][22]} and "Black Dutch" their distinctive coloration. This skin type sometimes burns and tans gradually, but always tans.^[23][2]

Type IV pigmentation occurs in the same regions, as well asSouth Asia andAustronesia.^{[24][20][3][25]}

Type V pigmentation is found among some populations inSouthwest Asia^[23] andNorth Africa.^[26] It is frequent in the indigenous peoples of the Americas,^[3] in parts ofSub-Saharan Africa,^[27] and inSouth Asia.^[28] This skin type very rarely burns and tans quite easily.^[23]

• Mediterranean race
• Light skin
• Dark skin

• Mediterranean
• Human skin color

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