How many people live in Antarctica?

Mawson expeditioners at Proclamation point
Mawson expeditioners at Proclamation point (Photo Ewan Curtis)
Mawson expeditioners at Proclamation pointCasey winter fire team Zodiac IRB carrying expeditionersEmperor penguins and expeditioner

No more than a few thousand in the height of summer, going down to hundreds over winter. The most populous Antarctic centre is McMurdo Base on Ross Island, south of New Zealand, operated by the United States.

Australia's four stations have winter-time populations totalling around 80 in winter, rising to perhaps 200 in summer. In addition, marine scientists spend a lot of time on research boats in the Southern Ocean during the summer months.

This page was last modified on June 30, 2011.