Is Antarctica safe in 2026?
Antarctica scores 99.1/100 on the live safety index — very safe. The main pressure on the score comes from natural disasters. The score has been stable for 33 days. The 24-hour AI forecast calls the trend stable (projected 99.1/100).
99.1 /100very safe
30-day trend
Antarctica's score changed by −0.6 over the last 30 days (99.8 → 99.1) — within normal day-to-day noise. No single event moved the index.
Threat breakdown
| Category | Pressure | Score / cap |
|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters | 0.6 / 5 | |
| Ecology | 0.1 / 1 | |
| Public health | 0.0 / 3 | |
| Economy | 0.1 / 8 | |
| Military conflict | 0.1 / 30 | |
| Crime | 0.0 / 15 | |
| Internet freedom | 0.0 / 7 | |
| Nuclear risk | 0.0 / 12 | |
| Political instability | 0.0 / 15 | |
| Sanctions | 0.0 / 4 |
Higher category scores mean more threat pressure; each category is capped by its weight in the 0–100 index. How scores are computed.
Official travel advisory
2 Exercise Increased Caution
The U.S. State Department places Antarctica at Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution. Our live index reads 99.1/100. That advisory was last revised Sep 23, 2025, 343 days ago; the index above is recomputed continuously from current reporting.
Antarctica presents environmental risks tied to severe, rapidly shifting weather conditions, and emergency response capacity across the region is thin. No U.S. consular assistance is available to American citizens there; the nearest embassies and consulates operate out of Argentina, Australia, Chile, New Zealand, and South Africa, while U.S. government assets in the region remain dedicated to the U.S. Antarctic Program. Insurance, including emergency medical evacuation coverage for independent expeditions, and travel through operators affiliated with the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators are the standard precautions. The State Department's Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs handles inquiries at [email protected].
Source: U.S. Department of State, revised Sep 23, 2025. Levels run 1 (normal precautions) to 4 (do not travel). This page is not travel advice.
Latest recorded events
No threat events have been recorded for Antarctica — the index is holding on baseline factors alone.
24-hour forecast
Trend: stable · projected score 99.1/100 (generated )
No new events and no evidence of deviation from the stable baseline.
Compared with nearby countries
| Country | Score | 0–100 | vs Antarctica |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antarctica | 99.1 | — | |
| Falkland Islands | 95.4 | −3.7 | |
| Fr. S. Antarctic Lands | 99.2 | +0.0 | |
| South Africa | 80.6 | −18.6 | |
| Argentina | 85.3 | −13.8 | |
| Lesotho | 80.9 | −18.2 |