Skin Reflectance of Selected World Populations

January 9, 2006

All samples are composed of indigenous populations, and readings are taken on areas of the body not exposed to the sun. Higher values indicate lighter skin, and lower values darker skin.


Country and population or area

Observed reflectance at 685 nm

EUROPE

Netherlands
67•37
Germany (Mainz)
66•90
United Kingdom (Northern)
66•10
Spain (Basques)
65•70
United Kingdom (Wales)
65•00
Ireland (Rossmore)
64•75
Spain (Leon)
64•66
Belgium
63•14
United Kingdom (London)
62•30
WEST ASIA

Iraq/Syria (Kurds)
61•12
Turkey
59•15
Israel
58•20
Lebanon
58•20
Jordan
53•00
Saudi Arabia
52•50
NORTH AFRICA

Algeria (Aures)
58•05
Tunisia
56•30
Morrocco
54•85
Libya (Tripoli)
54•40
Libya (Fezzan)
44•00
SOUTH ASIA

India (Northern)
53•26
Pakistan
52•30
India (Southern)
46•70
EAST ASIA

China (Southern)
59•17
Vietnam
55•90
Japan (Northern)
54•90
Philippines (Manila)
54•10
Cambodia
54•00
Japan (Southwest)
53•55
Nepal (Eastern)
50•42
AUSTRO-MELANESIA

Papua New Guinea
35•30
Australia (Darwin)
19•30
AMERICAS

Greenland (Southern)
55•70
Peru (Nunoa)
47•70
Peru (Maranon)
43•05
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

South Africa (Hottentot)
46•80
Botswana (San)
42•40
Zaire
33•20
Kenya
32•40
Ethiopia
31•70
Tanzania (Sandewe)
28•90
Namibia
25•55
Cameroon (Fali)
21•50
Mozambique (Chopi)
19•45


Jablonski and Chaplin. "The Evolution of Human Skin Coloration". J Hum Evol, 2000.

2 comments

Anonymous said...

So Cambodians and Philippinos are fairer than Japanese.

Souvik Biswas said...

Absolutely bullshit. -_-