Top 10 Most Isolated Islands on Earth

This uninhabited coral atoll is part of the United States Minor Outlying Islands in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 1,300 km (800 miles) southwest of Mexico City. The island has no permanent residents and only temporary inhabitants who are mostly scientists and researchers. With a land area of approximately 53 square kilometers (20.4 sq mi), Clipperton Island is one of the smallest islands in the world. It was named after French pirate François Les CLIPPERTONS, who was known to have visited the island in the early 18th century. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages the island's conservation efforts. Due to its remote location, it is difficult to compare Clipperton Island with other islands in terms of accessibility.

This tiny volcanic island has a population of less than 50 people, making it one of the most isolated inhabited places on Earth. Located about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand, Pitcairn Island serves as a secret headquarters for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The island's land area is approximately 4 square kilometers (1.5 sq mi), and its highest point is about 56 meters (183 feet) above sea level. In the 18th century, Pitcairn Island was famously associated with the mutiny on the Bounty that led to the execution of Captain William Bligh. Today, the island's residents are descendants of the original Bounty mutineers and Polynesian islanders.

This small Inuit hamlet is situated on the northern tip of Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. With a population of less than 5 people, Alert serves as one of the world's most remote military bases. The weather station has been in continuous operation since 1959 and tracks climate change effects across the region. In its harsh environment, only hardy residents like Inuit have adapted for centuries to survive in extreme cold conditions. Despite being accessible by air with limited services, Alert has a unique, isolated existence that's vastly different from other places on Earth.

This remote British Antarctic Territory island is part of the South Shetland Islands archipelago and houses the most remote permanent research station on Earth. The McMurdo Station scientists are responsible for monitoring weather patterns in Antarctica's extreme environment. Located about 13 kilometers (8 miles) east of Cape Evans, the land area covers approximately 50 square kilometers (19.3 sq mi). With its incredible scenery, Wolf Island is one of the most isolated places that have natural habitats capable of supporting life on Earth.

The eponymous island was once home to a small number of residents, but a significant volcanic eruption in 1961 led to the evacuation of the island's entire population. Located about halfway between South Africa and New Zealand, Tristan da Cunha is an active volcano in the southern Atlantic Ocean. With a total area of approximately 98 square kilometers (37.9 sq mi), the island has no permanent residents but occasionally hosts tourists. A unique feature of this volcanic island is its diverse wildlife that thrives despite human absence.

Situated at the French Southern Territories in the southern Indian Ocean, the Kerguelen Archipelago spans a 2,000-mile coastline surrounding an atoll. This remote volcanic archipelago was once uninhabited but is currently home to the largest population of penguins and several other species that thrive in its isolation. The land area covers approximately 7,215 square kilometers (2,768 sq mi). French researchers from Station L'Herbois conduct long-term monitoring programs there. Its remote position has made these islands accessible for no one to compare to others.

Norway's remote subarctic island holds an active volcano known as Beystadspunktet. Located in the North Atlantic, the volcanic peak of 2,277 feet (695 meters) above sea level rises out of a dense icecap that can be quite heavy and tall. Jan Mayen stands at nearly seven miles long from west to east, making it an exceptionally remote and unique place on Earth. Its strategic location makes it suitable for scientific research programs in the study of volcanic eruptions. The island has no permanent residents; only temporary workers who are stationed there serve as sentries.

This Australian external territory is one of Australia's most southern territories, with a total land area of 372 square kilometers (144 sq mi). Located between Antarctica and Australia in the southern Indian Ocean, it consists of two islands that can only be accessed by air or boat from nearby Fremantle. This isolated place supports unique wildlife species that thrive away from human disturbance. It is also notable for its remote status but holds some of the most pristine natural beauty found near the South Pole.

A coral atoll part of the Line Islands chain in the Pacific Ocean, Baker Island has no permanent residents but hosts occasional research scientists and Navy personnel. The total land area covers approximately 1 square mile (2.6 sq mi). Once named Kingman Reef, it was made an uninhabited island through U.S. military operations in a decision that resulted in American territorial acquisition of the region in 1859. Due to its isolation and relatively low profile among global nations, studying this small island's rich history offers deeper insight into past exploration attempts.

This tiny Florida Keys island is just a few miles long with an area slightly more than a few acres wide, making it one of the smallest inhabited places in the U.S. Located almost due north of Key West and south of Marathon. Although often overlooked because of its small size, Long Key holds great significance in U.S. history as part of the Florida Keys that have historical sites that are protected by national park designation since 1990.