Do New World Whites tend to be fairer-complexioned than their Old World counterparts? If so, why?

[Septentrion]

I highly doubt it, in America's case anyway. We almost to a man have more mainland European ancestry than Brits, which, in theory, should make us darker. We may be more robust, but that probably traces to differences in nutrition and hearty pioneer stock.

No, in America, you are much more mixed with other European thus are darker-complected with more brown eyes too! Approximately 22.3% of White Americans have blue eyes vs 48% for Britain and over 50% for Ireland.

[Finnish Swede]

How? If Swedes and Norwegians are less?

Via sexual selection and fact Western Finns are more blonds than Eastern Finns or Northern Finns.

[Borealis]

Example:

English is America's language.

I suggest you change your name to "aesthetic"

[Smeagol]

No, in America, you are much more mixed with other European thus are darker-complected with more brown eyes too! Approximately 22.3% of White Americans have blue eyes vs 48% for Britain and over 50% for Ireland.

Nonsense, check the chart J.Ketch posted.

[Smitty]

No, in America, you are much more mixed with other European thus are darker-complected with more brown eyes too! Approximately 22.3% of White Americans have blue eyes vs 48% for Britain and over 50% for Ireland.

Reread. That's what I said, although I doubt your numbers. There's no way only 1 in 5 of us has blue eyes.

[Smitty]

Yes but what 'mainland European' ancestry is more numerous? Because if it is primarily Germans and Dutch then that should make you lighter.

It is primarily German - Palatine German and Swiss for colonials, neither of which should be lighter. The Dutch I'll give you, but we also have French Huguenot frequently as well.

[Blondie]

American whites are not darker or lighter than european whites.

[Tooting Carmen]

bump

[SardiniaAtlantis]

No except for Canada. They don’t get as much sun as a whole as say Central Europeans.

[Westbrook]

Because every part of the US gets a lot more sun than NW Europe

In my experience, the Americans (North Americans) of British Isles descent tend to tan better than those in British Isles today. I'm not sure if they are more blond, but maybe it could be from more continental influences. Many many people, especially with self-reported studies, do not actually know their ancestry completely. Yeah they have British ancestry, but also Palatine and Dutch ancestry is often in the mix.