Curious to know the coldest countries in the world? Take a seat and let us tell you about the world’s coldest countries according to the lowest temperatures ever recorded.
To get started, you need to know that the world has two geographical poles namely, the North Pole (in the Arctic Ocean) and the South Pole (in Antarctica).
Both of these poles are described as the two point ends of the earth’s axis.
As a result, countries and places that are closer to any of these poles experience a much colder temperature and climates than other countries and places far from them.
These countries experience long lasting winters unlike countries that are farther from these poles. Food production, materials and equipment are usually limited in most of these countries.
But over the years, people have been able to sustain themselves in extremely cold countries or places and have adapted to the climates, making it their way of life.
It might come to your mind! How are people surviving in each of these coldest countries on planet? Well, there are numerous ways to survive in cold countries and few of which would be mentioned in the conclusion session below.
Just like our previous list of the Top 10 Hottest Countries in the World, also check out the list of top 10 coldest countries in the world based on the lowest temperatures ever recorded.
The 10 Coldest Countries in the World – lowest temperatures ever recorded
The common ways of determining the coldest countries in the world is either by Average Annual Temperatures or by the Lowest Temperatures Ever Recorded.
Based on the lowest temperatures ever recorded, the coldest countries in the world are:
1. Russia − The Lowest Temperature Ever Recorded: -67.7 °C (-89.86 °F)
The coldest country in the world is Russia. On February 6, 1933, a temperature of -67.7 °C (-89.86 °F) was recorded in Oymyakon, Russia.
Oymyakon, popularly known as “the pole of cold” is remote area located in the District of Sakha Republic, Russia. Oymyakon is home to only about 500-900 permanent residents and it is one of the world’s coldest permanently inhabited settlements.
The cold in Oymyakon during the winter is reported to be extreme and makes it really hard to use gadgets as the batteries usually end up freezing. Residents are reported to consume mostly meats since crops doesn’t grow on frozen grounds.
2. Greenland − The Lowest Temperature Ever Recorded: -66.1 °C (-87.0 °F)
Greenland is an island country located in the North Atlantic Ocean. It is regarded as the largest Island in the world.
With the name, Greenland, one could be tricked to imagining green smooth grasses all over the country. However, this is not the case, as about 80% of Greenland is covered by Ice Cap and Glaciers.
Greenland was reported to hit a freezing temperature of -66.1 °C (-87.0 °F) in 1954, making Greenland the second coldest country in the world.
As of 2022 – 2023, Greenland’s population is estimated to be 56,948 thousand.
3. Canada − The Lowest Temperature Ever Recorded: -63.0 °C (-81.4 °F)
Canada is a country located in Northern America. It has ten provinces and also has three capital territories.
The country is home to about 38 million residents, making Canada the 37th most populated country.
Canada is one of the world’s coldest countries, and certainly the coldest country in North America. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Canada was -63.0 °C (-81.4 °F) in Snag, Yukon, Canada, in 1947.
The most luxurious hotels in Canada have heated doors, and other features to keep you warm if you’re a tourist, on on vacation, so you have nothing to worry about.
4. USA − The Lowest Temperature Ever Recorded: -62.2 °C (-80 °F)
The United States of America is also among the coldest countries on earth. USA is a country primarily located in the Continent of America, particularly in Northern America.
On January 23, 1971, at Prospect Creek Camp, near the Arctic Circle in Alaska, USA, the lowest temperature recorded in the country was -62.2 °C (-80 °F).
Alaska is the largest state in USA by area and also home to one of the largest glaciers in the world.
Despite U.S.A being one of the world’s lowest temperature countries, it is also one of the hottest countries in the world.
RELATED: The Top Ten Richest States in USA.
5. China − The Lowest Temperature Ever Recorded: -58 °C (-72 °F)
China, the world’s most populated country is also on the list of the coldest countries in the world based on coldest temperature ever recorded.
It is officially known as the People’s Republic of China and can be found in the Eastern part of Asia.
The lowest temperature ever recorded in China was -58 °C (-72 °F) on December 31, 2009 in Genhe, Inner Mongolia, making china the fifth coldest country around the globe.
6. Mongolia − The Lowest Temperature Ever Recorded: -55.3 °C (-67.5 °F)
Mongolia is a country located in the Eastern Region of Asia and bordered by Russia (to the north) and China (to the south).
It is one of the coldest countries in the world as the lowest temperature ever recorded in the country was -55.3 °C (-67.5 °F).
Its -55.3 °C (-67.5 °F) low temperature was recorded in Züüngovi, Uvs Province, Mongolia in December, 1976.
Mongolia has a variety of geopolitical cultural and geographical connotations.
It is one of the few remaining areas on earth where nomadic life is still practiced.
Majority of Mongolia people have adapted their lifestyles to the country’s harsh temperatures and have continued to remain viable in the freezing conditions.
7. Kyrgyzstan − The Lowest Temperature Ever Recorded: -53.6 °C (-64.5 °F)
Officially known as the Kyrgyz Republic, Kyrgyzstan is also among the top ten coldest countries on earth.
The country is located in the Central area of the Asia Continent and it is widely famous for its several humongous mountains.
Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Tajikistan to the south, Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west and China to the east.
A freezing temperature as low as -53.6 °C (-64.5 °F) was the lowest temperature ever recorded in Kyrgyzstan, making it one of the World’s lowest temperature countries.
8. Sweden − The Lowest Temperature Ever Recorded: -53.0 °C (-63.4 °F)
Sweden is a Scandinavian Country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula, in the northern part of Europe.
A quick fact about the country is that, more than half of the whole Sweden is forest.
Sweden is also one of the coldest temperature countries in the world. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Sweden fell to -53.0 °C (-63.4 °F) on Dec 13, 1941 in Malgovik, Västerbotten County.
Winters in Sweden are usually long, Snowy, dry and freezing, with sub-zero temperatures.
9. Finland − The Lowest Temperature Ever Recorded: -51.5 °C (-60.7 °F).
The 9th coldest country in the world is Finland. Finland is a country in the Northern Europe, bordering Sweden, Norway and Russia. Finland has one of the world’s longest winter seasons, with winters lasting roughly 100 days in the southwest and 200 days in northern Lapland.
The coldest recorded temperature in Finland reached -51.5 °C (-60.7 °F), making it one of the coldest countries in the world.
In the north of Finland, northern lights usually appear around August ending to early April. Northern lights are colored skies with beautiful view in place of the regular blue skies.
10. Norway − The Lowest Temperature Ever Recorded: -51.2 °C (-60.16 °F).
Norway also makes it to the list of the coldest countries in the world 2023. It is a Nordic country located in the Northern Europe.
According to Nordnorge, the coldest part of mainland Norway is the Finnmark plain.
However, the lowest temperature ever recorded in Norway is -51.2 °C (-60.16 °F) in Karasjok city.
Norway is not excluded from one of the best countries to the see the Northern lights, also called Aurora Borealis. Its northern lights are splendidly beautiful and majority of people hope to visit Norway to witness such glamorous sky view.
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LIST OF THE 10 COLDEST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD BY LOWEST TEMPERATURE EVER RECORDED
| S/No. | COUNTRIES | LOWEST TEMPERATURE EVER RECORDED |
| 1. | RUSSIA | -67.7 °C (-89.86 °F) |
| 2. | GREENLAND | -66.1 °C (-87.0 °F) |
| 3. | CANADA | -63.0 °C (-81.4 °F) |
| 4. | USA | -62.2 °C (-80 °F) |
| 5. | CHINA | -58 °C (-72 °F) |
| 6. | MONGOLIA | -55.3 °C (-67.5 °F) |
| 7. | KYRGYZSTAN | -53.6 °C (-64.5 °F) |
| 8. | SWEDEN | -53.0 °C (-63.4 °F) |
| 9. | FINLAND | -51.5 °C (-60.7 °F) |
| 10. | NORWAY | -51.2 °C (-60.16 °F) |
SEE: The List of All the Countries in the World in Alphabetical Order.
The World’s Coldest Place (by lowest temperature ever recorded)
South Pole in Antarctica holds the title of being the world’s coldest place.
Many would expect Antarctica to be in the list of the coldest countries in the world. However, Antarctica is not a country but rather a continent which barely supports habitation due to its low and freezing temperatures.
This location can get extremely freezing.
The following are the comments of Ted Scambos, a researcher at the National Snow and Ice Data Center at the University of Colorado, Boulder, while describing Antarctica, “It’s a region where Earth is so close to its limit that it almost feels like another planet.”
Antarctica’s ice sheet was found to have valleys that reached temperatures of -100 °C (-148 °F) in the winter.
When the temperature dropped to -89.2 °C at Vostok Station in Antarctica on July 21, 1983, it was the coldest day ever on record.
The average temperature in this part of the world ranges from -10°C (14°F) along the shore to -60°C (-76°F) inland.
Because of the lack of direct sunshine, the Arctic (North Pole) and Antarctic (South Pole) are both extremely frigid.
The South Pole (Terrestrial South Pole), on the other hand, is far colder than the North Pole (Terrestrial North Pole).
This is because the Arctic (North Pole location) is primarily covered by ocean and low-lying land, while the Antarctic continent (South Pole location) is really rather high, with an average elevation of approximately 2,400 meters.
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Conclusion (Coldest countries in the world)
Let’s bring it to your knowledge that °C used in this article means “Degrees Celsius” while °F likewise means “Degrees Fahrenheit”.
From the above article, the coldest Country in the world is Russia, while the coldest Place on Earth is South Pole, Antarctica, based on the lowest temperatures ever recorded.
Few quick tips on how to survive in any of the world’s coldest countries:
- Prepare yourself to adapt to the cold environment.
- Get yourself a naturally heated home.
- You need cold protective clothing materials like thick jackets, winter clothes, fur vests, beanies, Ski gloves, thick scarfs, ugg boots, socks, and so on.
- You would need to develop the habit of hydrating with warm water.
- Taking hot coffee and tea regularly would keep you warm.
- Avoid staying wet for long.
- Avoid unnecessary or frequent outing. Learn to stay indoors on a regular.
- You might need to take a liking to meats as crops finds it hard to grow on frozen grounds.
- Get yourself enough house or personal heating equipment and devices.
- Watch out for frostbites: You might want to kit up your necessary clothing from head to toe before you go outside.
- Learn to stay calm at all time in order to control your breathing and conserve energy.
Do you mind visiting any of these 10 coldest countries in the world? Tell us which one you would like to visit in the comment box below.
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