Do southern Europeans etc. tan faster?

So I've noticed that when it gets warm I tan quickly.

So you can see a difference really quickly.

But my friends (both from Russia) get sunburned very quickly and don't get a tan no matter how long we sit in the sun.

I'm from the South and wanted to ask if this has something to do with genetics?

because southerners tend to come from warmer countries and Russians (like my friends) from colder countries

Is this due to genetics?

because I am really very white but I tan quickly and have never had sunburn