Where Are the 5 Major Oceans Located?

Global Map of the Five Oceans

The five oceans cover ~71% of Earth's surface. Here's their geographic extent:

1. Pacific Ocean: Between Americas (east) and Asia/Australia (west). North to Arctic, south to Southern Ocean. ~165M km².
2. Atlantic Ocean: Between Americas (west) and Europe/Africa (east). North to Arctic, south to Southern Ocean. ~106M km².
3. Indian Ocean: South of Asia, east of Africa, west of Australia, north of Southern Ocean. ~70M km².
4. Southern Ocean: Encircles Antarctica, extending north to 60°S latitude. ~20M km². Defined by Antarctic Circumpolar Current.
5. Arctic Ocean: Around North Pole, bounded by N. America, Eurasia, Greenland. ~14M km². Shallow, ice-covered.

Note on Southern Ocean

IHO recognized it in 2000. Some countries (e.g., US NOAA) use it; others still group those waters into S. Atlantic/Pacific/Indian. It's the only ocean defined by a current, not continents.