22 Coldest Countries in the World [World’s Coldest Country Guide]

What are the coldest countries in the world? Keep reading to learn all about 22 of the coldest countries on earth.

Do you love it when the temperature starts to drop every year?

If you’d rather ski down a mountain than laze on the beach, then maybe you need to vacation where it stays chilly 24/7!

Thankfully, there are plenty of destinations that fit the bill.

In fact, some of them probably fit it a little too well…

In this post, I’m going to be talking about 22 of the coldest countries in the world.

While some of them might be a little too cold for your taste, and many of them are downright dangerous, there’s no denying they all offer their fair share of adventure!

Let’s dive into this list of contenders for the coldest country on earth…

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What is the coldest country in the world? Antarctica!

1. Antarctica (Coldest Country in the World)

A fun fact about Antarctica is that it has the distinction of being the world’s coldest country.

While it’s technically a continent, there are no separate countries within it, so it’s essentially the only country on the continent!

This inhospitable country is regularly the coldest place on earth.

On average, temps fluctuate between 14 degrees Fahrenheit (-10 degrees Celsius) near the coast to -76 degrees Fahrenheit (-60 degrees Celsius) as you move closer inland.

But on July 21, 1983, temperatures at Antarctica’s Vostok Station plummeted to -128.6 degrees Fahrenheit, or -89.2 degrees Celsius.

2. Greenland (World’s Coldest Country After Antarctica)

On 22 December 1991, Greenland hit a record-breaking -93.28 degrees Fahrenheit, or -69.6 degrees Celsius.

That was both the country’s and the entire Northern Hemisphere’s lowest recorded temperature ever.

With its Arctic tundra climate, Greenland’s average temperatures in its hottest months hover around 42 degrees Fahrenheit (5.6 degrees Celsius). When winter hits, that average drops to a teeth-chattering -4 degree Fahrenheit, or -18 degrees Celsius.  

3. Russia

Not every part of Russia stays cold around the clock, but the parts that do will take your breath away…literally.

If you want to experience a bone-chilling freeze, plan a trip to Oymyakon, Siberia.

“Oymyakon” actually means “unfrozen waters.” It sounds ironic, but it’s not! There’s a thermal spring located nearby the city at which reindeer herders once watered their flock.

In February 1933, the region dropped to -90 degrees Fahrenheit, or -68 degrees Celsius.

If it seems like residents are used to the cold, it’s because they’ve learned how to schedule their lives around it.

For example, if the dial dips below -61.6 degrees Fahrenheit (-52 degrees Celsius), all the schools in Oymyakon close for the day.

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Canada is another country with a reputation for being one of the coldest places in the world.

4. Canada

On a list of the coldest temperatures in the world, we have to include Canada near the top.

While some parts of the country can get relatively mild and even hot in the summertime, plenty of spots stay cold all the time.

In the winter, temperatures hover around -40 degrees Fahrenheit (also -40 degrees Celsius).

The coldest temp ever recorded in Canada occurred in February 1947, when the city of Snag, Yukon, fell to -81 degrees Fahrenheit (-63 degrees Celsius)!

5. The United States

No, you won’t need your gloves or long johns when you visit Texas or Florida in the middle of summer!

Still, there are some states where it gets so cold that it brings the average temperature of the U.S. way down.

Across the entire country, winter temperatures average right above freezing, at 33.2 degrees Fahrenheit, or 0.7 degrees Celsius.

Still, that doesn’t paint the full picture.

The coldest temp recorded here is a staggering -80 degrees Fahrenheit, or -62 degrees Celsius.

It happened on January 23, 1971, at Prospect Creek Camp, near the Arctic Circle in Alaska.

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Look at that natural beauty! Mongolia isn’t the coldest place in the world, but its lowest temperature on record is still hard to fathom.

6. Mongolia

With yearly average temperatures that stay below zero, you know Mongolia will have you shaking in your snow boots!

In the winter, numbers average between -5 and -22 degrees Fahrenheit (-15 to -30 degrees Celsius).

The Mongolian province of Tsetsen Uul. earns the record for the coldest-ever temp in the country, dropping to -66.5 degrees Fahrenheit, or -54.7 degrees Celsius, in February 2021.

7. Kazakhstan

Bordering Russia and China in Central Asia, Kazakhstan is recognized as the second coldest country in the world.

In fact, many areas stay covered in snow all year round! In the winter, temperatures are commonly around -4 degrees Fahrenheit or -20 degrees Celsius.

The coldest temperature ever recorded in Kazakhstan occurred in the city of Atbasar, which dipped to -70 degrees Fahrenheit (-57 degrees Celsius)!

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With temperatures getting down to -51 degrees Celsius, Norway’s definitely one of the coldest countries on earth!

8. Norway

Despite most counties in Norway bordering the coastline, a majority of the country lies above the Arctic Circle.

And, as you know, the farther north you go, the colder it gets.

On average, Norway winters hover around 19.8 degrees Fahrenheit, or -6.8 degrees Celsius.

Toward the end of the 20th century, the Norwegian village of Karasjok dropped all the way down to a frigid -60 degrees Fahrenheit, or -51 degrees Celsius.

9. North Korea

North Korea’s reputation precedes it. Yet one thing you may not know about this East Asian country is how cold it gets…

While its climate generally fits into the “cool continental” category, its winters are long and harsh. They last from December to March, with the mean temperature in January ranging from roughly 20 degrees Fahrenheit (−7 °C) in the south to −10 degrees Fahrenheit (−23 °C) in the north.

According to Britannica, the coldest recorded temperature in the Korean peninsula was recorded at Chunggang in North Korea: −46.5 degrees Fahrenheit (−43.6 °C).

10. Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked country located in Central Asia. Its official name is the Kyrgyz Republic.

Though it’s relatively small in size, it has a surprisingly varied climate.

Its southwestern Fergana Valley can get sweltering in the summer, often reaching temps of up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit, or 40 degrees Celsius.

Yet the more mountainous regions are an entirely different story.

Here, it stays around -22 degrees Fahrenheit (-30 degrees Celsius) during the winter months.

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A sure contender for the coldest country in Europe, Finland also looks incredibly beautiful.

11. Finland

Located in Northern Europe, Finland is one of the most remote countries in the world.

While it doesn’t have the coldest temps on Earth, you’ll still want to bundle up if you travel here.

Finland has one of the longest winter seasons, lasting around 100 days in the southwestern regions and 200 days in the northern Lapland region.

Temperatures in Lapland often fall to -49 degrees Fahrenheit, or -45 degrees Celsius.

The coldest day here occurred on January 28, 1999, in the city of Kittilä. It reached -60.7 degrees Fahrenheit (-51.5 degrees Celsius) that day!

12. Estonia

Also located in Northern Europe, Estonia is a small country bordered by Russia to the east and the Baltic Sea to the west.

Like Finland, parts of the country can also get hot in the summer, but the northern areas stay very cold all year.

Estonia is also known for its irregular rainfall patterns, which can cause temperatures to drop at a moment’s notice.

While winter temperatures usually stay around 21.7 degrees Fahrenheit (5.7 degrees Celsius), the coldest temp recorded here is -46.3 degrees Fahrenheit (-43.5 degrees Celsius)!

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Sweden might not boast the coldest temperatures in the world, but it still gets insanely cold sometimes!

13. Sweden

When you think of Sweden, you might picture frolicking through a field of colorful tulips while the sun shines down and the blue skies swirl above.

It deserves its place on this list of the coldest countries in the world thanks to its freezing winters.

Sweden also connects to the Lapland region, along with Finland.

In that area, the coldest temp ever recorded was -56.9 degrees Fahrenheit (-49.4 degrees Celsius).

14. Belarus

You can find the Republic of Belarus right in the center of Europe.

It has a standard continental climate, which means the summers are relatively mild, but it gets cold in the winter.

It’s especially chilly when the Siberian High (or Siberian Anti Cyclone) appears!

This is a huge collection of cold, dry air that accumulates around the northeastern part of Eurasia, usually lasting from September to April of each year.

During those times, the temperature in Belarus can drop to -22 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit (-30 to -40 degrees Celsius).

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Many people don’t associate Denmark with super cold countries, so you might be surprised at just how cold it gets!

15. Denmark

When it comes to the coldest countries on Earth, Denmark’s up there, but it definitely doesn’t take the top spot.

That’s because this country stays relatively warm thanks to the nearby ocean currents that drift inward.

But even a little maritime warm-up can’t keep it from getting extra chilly at certain times year!

Indeed, the lowest temperature ever recorded in Denmark occurred in January 1982, when the dial sunk to -24.2 degrees Fahrenheit, or -31.2 degrees Celsius!

16. Latvia

Located directly beneath Estonia, Latvia borders the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga.

When winter rolls around, the climate turns cold, and the days turn dark.

It snows frequently here, but it’s not exactly a winter wonderland!

Instead of building snowmen, you’ll be shivering in temperatures that can drop as low as -45.7 degrees Fahrenheit (-43.2 Celsius)!

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Snowy and mountainous, Austria’s another “must-have” on any list of cold countries in the world.

17. Austria

Austria is closely associated with rolling hills, vast mountain ranges, and lush lowlands.

However, if you’re packing for a trip here, then I hope a few of your favorite things include snow bibs and a ski mask.

In Austria’s alpine regions, the average temperature drops roughly 41 degrees Fahrenheit (or five degrees Celsius) for every 985 feet of elevation you gain.

Recognized as the country’s highest peak, The Grossglockner has seen temps as low as -11.2 degrees Fahrenheit (-24 degrees Celsius).

18. Switzerland

Switzerland’s one of the most scenic and tourist-friendly travel spots in the world- it’s also one that’s high up my bucket list!

While most of the country stays mild and comfortable almost all year round, there are some parts that get downright freezing.

This is especially the case in Switzerland’s many mountainous regions.

While the shortest elevation is only 193 meters, the highest one soars to 4,634 meters high!

In all, the country includes three primary regions: The Swiss Plateau/Central Plateau located in the north, the Alps in the south, and the Jura Mountains in the northwest.

The Plateau region stays at an average temperature of 48 degrees Fahrenheit (8.9 degrees Celsius).

In the other regions, the climate’s notoriously unpredictable!

The coldest temperature in the country was recorded at La Brevine in 1987, where it reached -41.8 degrees Celsius.

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With a name like Iceland, how could it not be one of the coldest countries on earth!?

19. Iceland

What is the coldest country in the world? Given its name, you might expect it to be Iceland.

However, it actually stays relatively mild here, especially in the summertime, when temps average around 54 degrees Fahrenheit, or 12 degrees Celsius.

However, it can get extremely cold in the winter.

In the south at this time of year, expect temperatures around 32 degrees Fahrenheit, or 0 degrees Celsius (keep that in mind if you’re exploring the Golden Circle). It’s colder in the north, averaging 14 degrees Fahrenheit or -10 degrees Celsius.

The coldest temperature ever recorded in Iceland was -39.5 degrees Fahrenheit, or -39.7 degrees Celsius.

20. Lithuania

Speaking of unpredictable weather, have you ever thought about visiting Lithuania?

This country has a semi-continental climate, which can fluctuate but generally stays pretty wet.

In the winter, expect frigid temperatures and high winds. That weather then gives way to a gentle and rainy spring and summer.

Along the coast, it’s common for temperatures to drop below freezing, but they hover around 64 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius) in the warmest summer months.

While Lithuania’s central region is slightly cooler, it’s much colder in the country’s eastern region, where it’s been known to reach 25.5 degrees Fahrenheit (-3.5 degrees Celsius) in January and February.

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Poland isn’t just beautiful, it’s also one of the coldest countries in Europe!

21. Poland

Located in Central Europe, Poland, like other countries on this list, has warm summers and cold, snowy winters.

Those winters are especially frigid in the northeastern part of the country, where it can drop to below freezing in the inland zones.

It has even dropped as low as -20 degrees Fahrenheit, or -4 degrees Celsius.

The coldest winter on record occurred in the Polish city of Siedlce, in 1940. That year, temperatures reached -42 degrees Fahrenheit (-41 degrees Celsius)!

22. Slovakia

A landlocked country in Central Europe, Slovakia has a continental climate, especially in its eastern region.

When the winter months roll around, it’s common for temperatures to reach subfreezing levels.

In January 2017, temps hit record lows in Slovakia, falling to -31.2 degrees Fahrenheit (-35.2 degrees Celsius) in the city of Oravská Lesná.


Visit the Coldest Countries in the World

Cold weather isn’t for everyone, but it can offer a memorable and worthwhile travel experience.

While these are some of the coldest countries in the world, there are plenty more teeth-chattering destinations to check out.

As long as you prepare well ahead of time and pack the right gear, you may discover that you like bundling up as much as lazing on beaches and listening to tropical songs!

If not, you might prefer to visit the hottest countries in the world instead…


Author: Danny Newman

Title: Writer and Content Creator

Expertise: Travel, Digital Nomadry, Outdoors, Blogging

Danny Newman is a writer, content creator, and digital nomad from the UK. He founded the travel and lifestyle blog What’s Danny Doing, a popular resource for people seeking more adventure, self-discovery, and purpose. A nationally syndicated writer, Danny’s work features in dozens of online publications, including MSN.com and news sites across the US.

4 thoughts on “22 Coldest Countries in the World [World’s Coldest Country Guide]”

  1. One thing, the USA is not really that cold you still have to subtract and add the average temperature of other states. Otherwise it is just counting Alaska and excluding the other states. Other than that it’s pretty accurate

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