Exactly, northerners look younger and southerners look older. It might be genetics, but I think it's more due to the sun. Exceptions exist of course, but I think there is a trend.

Yet supposedly the "Mediterranean" lifestyle is better for us overall...

I've heard that espoused in reference to their diet, not the sun exposure of their more southerly located environ.

That and an arguably a better work/life balance, and lack of SAD from excessively dark/cold/long winters.

Fair point about SAD, knowing plenty of people in far north Alaska. But there is a huge difference between "23 hours of darkness in the winter" and "On the beach so often your skin resembled tanned leather by 32 years of age"

Weathered skin doesn't kill you.

Skin cancer, on the other hand, is my one of own country's bigger killers (11th biggest cause of death I think).

Interestingly, skin cancer incidences are highest in northern europe, which is maybe due to the fair skin that people up there have:

https://www.euronews.com/next/2023/07/19/skin-cancer-which-e...

True, but it also seems the fatal occurences are more common in southern Europe. In Australia we have the worst of both worlds - large numbers of us with northern-European heritage, hence fairer skin, yet very high levels of UV (esp. due to ozone layer thinning).

I’d also be curious about any disparate economic conditions 30-50 years ago as were judging older peoples appearances.