Short answer: the Arctic is a frozen ocean surrounded by land, and Antarctica is a frozen continent surrounded by ocean. That one difference explains most of the rest: who lives there, which animals you see and how cold it gets.
Land and sea
- Arctic: the North Pole sits in the middle of the Arctic Ocean, which is covered by floating sea ice. Land around it belongs to countries such as Canada, Greenland (Denmark), Norway, Russia and the United States.
- Antarctica: the South Pole sits on a huge land mass covered by a thick ice sheet. The Southern Ocean surrounds it.
Weather
Antarctica is generally colder than the Arctic. The ice sheet is very high and thick, and the land stays cold even in summer. The Arctic is warmed a little by the ocean beneath its ice, so it is usually milder.
People
- Arctic: people have lived here for thousands of years, including Inuit and other Indigenous communities. There are towns and villages.
- Antarctica: no one lives there permanently. Scientists and staff stay at research stations for months at a time, and visitors come by ship.
Animals
- Arctic: polar bears, Arctic foxes, reindeer (caribou), walrus, musk oxen and many seabirds.
- Antarctica: penguins, seals, whales and seabirds. There are no polar bears and no land animals larger than small insects.
A simple memory trick: polar bears live in the north, penguins live in the south.
Plants
The Arctic has low plants, flowers and small bushes in summer. Antarctica has very few plants, mostly mosses and lichens on rocks.
Rules and ownership
Antarctica is not owned by any one country. An international agreement called the Antarctic Treaty says it is for peaceful use and science. The Arctic is divided among the countries around it.
Travel
- Arctic trips: roughly June to September. Common places include Svalbard, Greenland and northern Canada.
- Antarctica trips: roughly November to March, usually starting from the southern tip of South America.
See our guides on the best time to go to Antarctica and the Antarctica expedition guide.
Quick FAQ
Which is colder, the Arctic or Antarctica?
Antarctica.
Are there penguins in the Arctic?
No. Wild penguins live in the southern half of the world.
Are there polar bears in Antarctica?
No. They live only in the Arctic.