An update on the world’s coldest countries and regions. If you like near-freezing temperatures and want to know about the coldest places in the world, then you have come to the right place. We have that information, well packaged, waiting for you. jump right in, and find out the best places to freeze yourself to death!

Okay, so the coldest countries in the world are not just natural freezers, they are also snow-capped mountains, and beautiful fields, that delight the senses, relax the mind, and generally make a person happy. They also wonder sites for winter-sports and such thrill-seeking activities.

So, whether you are keen to die by freezing, looking for beauty, or a good place to train for winter sports; here are the Top 10 Coldest Places in the World. 

Top 20 Coldest Countries in The World

  • 1. Antarctica 

Antarctica is a continent on the southernmost corner of our planet. There is no natural habitation there because anyone who tried to live there would probably die of the cold. The highest temperature recorded there is -89 degrees Celsius. For the sake of emphasis I restate; 89 degrees below zero. That is to say, you keep declining from room temperature until you get to the freezing point (0 degrees) and then you keep going until you reach -89 degrees Celsius. To speak factually, most people would be long dead. Let us also mention that the place is extremely dry; only about 2.9 millimeters of precipitation finds its way over there.

For those with a little knowledge of Geography, it is not much of a surprise that Antarctica is on top of the list of the coldest countries in the world. The temperatures in this region have been known to fall to 100 degrees below zero. The Canada Glacier in Antarctica is one of the most beautiful glaciers in the world as of today.

  • 2. Russia

The people of Russia do not consume vodka because they like to get drunk, but because their country is extremely cold! In Russia it is not strange to record temperatures of -30 degrees Celsius; in fact, the people take pride in their country and their climate. Normal temperatures in the summer can range from 12 to 25 degrees, and during the winter we often see around -3 degrees Celsius. Verkhoyansk in Russia is reputed to have the coldest temperature of -69 degrees Celsius. 

It is common knowledge that Russia is one of the largest countries in the world. It stretches from Europe to Asia and is a part of two continents. Most of the regions in the country are very cold throughout the year and summer temperatures can also fall below zero degrees.

  • 3. The United States Of America 

The United States is rated as one of the coldest countries in the world although not all the regions in the country have a uniform temperature. Yes, places like Texas and Missouri can be quite warm and hospitable, but the United States of America can be a cold country to live in.

The United States of America is the third-largest country in terms of land area, and the country is spread out from sea to shining sea. It should, therefore, be no surprise that the country varies so much in geography and climate. Predictably, the regions to the north experience a much colder climate, which brings us to the place called Alaska.

Alaska has a climate very close to what you have on the North Pole. The area near Fairbanks has the lowest temperature; the coldest recorded temperature being -51°C (-60°F). Apart from Alaska, other areas that experience extreme cold are the town of Stanley in Idaho and Crested Butte in Colorado where temperatures are sometimes below zero.

  • 4. Canada 

Canada is located in North America and is one of the coldest places in the world. Although, in some parts of the country you can have relatively mild summers, do not be fooled; during the winter, temperatures in parts of Canada can be very severe. There can be chilly winds and temperatures that range from -15 to -40 degrees Celsius.

In the northern part of the country (there are Eskimos there) you can record temperatures of between 15 degrees in the summer, and well below -40 degrees Celsius in the winter. Unlike Greenland and despite being located in the extreme north, Canada has plenty of greenery and lakes.

  • 5. Kazakhstan 

Fourth, on this list is Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan is a near neighbor of Russia and a former member of the Soviet Union. Much of Kazakhstan consists of mountain ranges, hills, and plateaus. Even without the high altitudes, the entire region can be quite cold, much less when you have to face the chilly winds so high up in the mountains. To make matters worse, you can find that there is quite a lot of snow to contend with, and the rains are quite heavy as well.  Astana is the country’s capital and averages a winter temperature of between -30°C to -35°C (-22 to -31° F). Between November and April, the city’s river is generally frozen. 

  • 6. Greenland 

Do you want to see a paradox? Just look at Greenland! The country is called Greenland, but a large part of the country is permanently enveloped in an ice sheet making it one of the coldest countries in the world. A more correct name for this country should be Whiteland, or Iceland because it is more white than green.

Greenland is one of the countries in the world with the longest coastlines. The average daily temperature of the capital Nuuk ranges from -8° C (18° F) in February to 7° C (45° F) in July. If you are comparing notes in the Scandinavian region, this is quite a mild climate, and that probably explains why it is one of the most inhabited places in the region. During winter, however, the temperature in some places in Greenland falls to -50° C (-58°F). That is enough cold to kill a man if he is not used to the cold.

  • 7. Norway 

Norway is a country located high on the top of Europe, in the Scandinavian region. Located so close to the North Pole one would ordinarily expect the people to freeze to death, instead, you would find a surprisingly temperate climate due to the North Atlantic Current.  Norway is a very beautiful country, inhabited by civilized people, who enjoy a stable economy, and all the good things of life. Many people who love hiking and winter-sports flock to Norway every year.

The Arctic polar climate is modified by one branch of this current which goes along the west coast of Spitsbergen. When you go to central Norway, the coldest winters are experienced in Finnmarksvidda but that is not the coldest place in Norway; the coldest recorded temperature in the country was at Karasjok situated in the far northeastern part. It was recorded in January 1999, as -51.2°C (-60.2°F) but there are many unofficial claims that are even lower. 

  • 8. Iceland 

Iceland is not covered with Ice as you may imagine. Yes, there are snow-covered mountains, but there are also temperate regions a well. As a matter of fact, Iceland does not experience as harsh winter as some other countries lying on the same latitude; the country enjoys the same grace of the North Atlantic Current which makes part of the region more temperate.

In winter, you get an average temperature in the Highlands of Iceland of about -10°C (14°F),  but when you travel north you get temperatures as low as -30° C (-22°F). Iceland is one of the best places to experience the cosmic phenomenon known as aurora borealis; or northern lights. 

Temperatures in Iceland can easily dip to minus 10 degrees or lower making this one of the coldest countries in the world. The northern regions of Iceland have perpetually sub-zero temperatures all year round but the moist air of the country makes the climate more favorable for the growth of vegetation. Vatnajokull Glacier Cave is noted as one of the most incredible caves in the world.

  • 9. Finland

Finland is one of the countries at the very top of the globe and is also one of the least populated countries in Europe. While it is not the coldest, it is one with one of the longest winters and the harshest conditions. Imagine having winter for 200 days, while the whole year lasts 365. The northernmost part of Finland does not see the sunrise for 51 days during winter, and the temperatures in Lapland can fall to as low as -45°C (-49° F), making Finland one of the world’s coldest countries as well.

The country is also famous for the phenomenon of Aurora Borealis better known as Northern Lights. Due to the permanent presence of snow, the Finnish have made quite an indelible mark on the Winter Olympic Games, having gained some of the highest medal tallies in the world.

  • 10. Estonia 

Estonia is a small country located in Northern Europe. Although the country can be warm during summer, the erratic rainfall can cause the temperatures to plummet irrespective of the time of year. The temperatures frequently fall below zero due to the monsoon winds which make the region extremely cold.  The average temperature in February (the coldest month of the year) is -5.7°C (21.7°F). The lowest temperature on record is -43.5°C (-46.3°F).

Estonia is ranked as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe because of its low cost, beautiful medieval architecture, and also thick pine forests.

  • 11. Mongolia

Last on this list is Mongolia. It continues our journey south from Russia and Kazakhstan. The country is located in Central Asia and has scattered mountain ranges that make the climate of the country even colder. The cold winds coming in from the North are stopped by the high peaks leading to a large amount of snowfall in the country and the temperature of the country during winter can easily fall to as low as minus twenty degrees.

Mongolia has several nomadic tribes, most of whom live in the mountains. They have adapted their lifestyles to the extreme temperatures of the country and thrive in this highly frigid environment.

The Remaining Top 10 Coldest Countries In The World Includes:

  • Belarus
  • Sweden
  • Denmark
  • Latvia
  • Austria
  • Switzerland
  • Ukraine
  • Lithuania
  • Nepal

Related:

Closing on Top 20 Coldest Countries In The World

Perhaps there is a correlation between cold climates and social infrastructure development. Most of the coldest countries are so well developed in social structures, maybe because if the people do not look after each other there is a real risk of dying from the cold, or from snowstorms or avalanches. They also have excellent healthcare, and other social services are shining examples of what a working country should look like.

We have listed the top ten coldest countries in the world currently. Living in such cold regions for humans requires great changes in lifestyle, diet, clothing, and also physiological changes in the color of skin, the blood oxygen level, and even facial structure that evolved over centuries. Depending on the exact location where one lives, the day-to-day activities can be quite different. In such very cold regions, traveling, food, clothing, shelter, and also a day to day jobs are very different and to a large extent dependent on the climate of the region.