How Many Antarcticas Are There?

There is only one Antarctica. It is Earth's southernmost continent, centered asymmetrically on the South Pole, almost entirely within the Antarctic Circle.

• Area: 14.2 million km² (5.5 million mi²) — 5th largest continent.
• Ice Cover: 98% covered by ice sheet (avg. 1.9 km thick; max 4.8 km).
• Governance: Antarctic Treaty System (1959) — no sovereignty; reserved for peace & science.
• Population: 0 permanent; 1,000–5,000 seasonal researchers.

Sub-regions (e.g., East/West Antarctica, Antarctic Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land, Ross Dependency) are geographic or political sectors—not separate continents.