Antarctica
Antarctic Β· Capital: β
How it is run: Antarctica is a territory or observer, so some decisions about it are made elsewhere. The research links below explain who is in charge.
Antarctica is home to a community in Antarctic.
Numbers that tell a story π’
π₯ People
Not counted in world data
πΊοΈ Land
14,000,000 kmΒ²
A giant of the map β it stretches across several time zones.
ποΈ How crowded
Not enough data
π Size in its region
Part of Antarctic
1st largest by land in Antarctic.
π£οΈ Official languages
β
π° Money
No currency of its own
Everyday details π§
π Phone code
β
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
π Websites end in
.aq
π§ People here are called
Antarctican
π·οΈ Name at home
Antarctica
π Coast or inland
Has a coastline
ποΈ UN voting group
Not a UN member
Neighbours & borders π€
Antarctica has no land borders at all. It is surrounded by water, so boats and planes are the way in and out.
Say its name around the world π£οΈ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
AntΓ‘rtida
French
Antarctique
Arabic
Ψ£ΩΨͺΨ§Ψ±ΨͺΩΩΨ§
Chinese
εζζ΄²
Japanese
εζ₯΅ε€§ιΈ
Russian
ΠΠ½ΡΠ°ΡΠΊΡΠΈΠ΄Π°
Portuguese
AntΓ‘rtida
German
Antarktis
Put it in perspective π
- Antarctica covers roughly 133,333 times the area of Hong Kong Island.
Fast facts π§
Fact of the day: Antarctica sits in Antarctic, in the southern and eastern half of the globe.
π·οΈ Official name
Antarctica
ποΈ Capital
β
π Region
Antarctic Β· Antarctic
π€ Country code
AQ
ποΈ UN status
Not a UN member state
π© Independence
Linked territory
More about Antarctica π
π§ Where on the map
90.0Β° S, 0.0Β° E
π Half of the world
Southern & Eastern hemisphere
π°οΈ Clock check
Roughly UTC+0 β when it is noon in London it is about 12:00 in β.
- Antarctica shares its part of the world with French Southern and Antarctic Lands. Countries close together often trade the most with each other.
- Antarctica is a territory linked to another country, so some decisions are made elsewhere.
- Antarctica sits in Antarctic, in the southern and eastern half of the globe.
- Antarctica reaches far toward the pole, so its summer days are extremely long and winter days very short.
- Antarctica is close to the line of 0Β° longitude, so its clocks are near the world's reference time (UTC).
Countries nearby π€
Talk about it π¬
- Antarctica has 1 official languages. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- Antarctica can trade by sea. What should a country protect first: its ports, its fishing waters, or its beaches?
- If Antarctica spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz π§ͺ
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of Antarctica?
β
Which money do people spend in Antarctica?
No currency of its own
How many countries share a land border with Antarctica?
None β no land neighbours at all.
Roughly how many people live in Antarctica?
World data does not count this place separately.
Keep researching π
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further β and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here β kid-friendly encyclopedias π
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ποΈ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy π°
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card π«
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians β all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.