Who Lives in Antarctica? Scientists, Not Settlers

Zero permanent residents. Antarctica is governed by the **Antarctic Treaty System (1959)**—no sovereignty, no commercial exploitation, no indigenous population.

Seasonal Population (Research Stations)

Major Stations (Examples)

• McMurdo (US): Largest (~1,200 summer / 250 winter). Logistics hub.
• Amundsen-Scott South Pole (US): 150 summer / 40 winter. Astrophysics, neutrino detector.
• Rothera (UK), Palmer (US), Casey/Davis/Mawson (Aus), Concordia (Fr/It), Neumayer (Ger), Novolazarevskaya (Rus), Zhongshan (China). ~70 stations, 30 countries.

Tourists

~100,000/year (ship-based, Peninsula only). **No overnight stays on land** (except rare guided camps).

Antarctica is a **scientific preserve**, not a home.