Top 10 most Coldest Countries in the World

Introduction — Cold, a Climate and a Lifestyle

When “cold” becomes a climate label, it shapes not only snow lines and ice fields, but also roads, buildings, energy systems, and culture. For communities surrounded by cold winds and ice and snow all year round, cold is a daily reality and a challenge: how to keep homes warm in a sub-zero world, and how to maintain ecological balance between melting and warming. This article uses the Average Annual Temperature as the main indicator, combined with authoritative climate databases, to list the ten coldest countries/regions in the world in 2025 (or the most recent statistical year available), explain why they are so cold, and discuss the short-term and long-term impacts of climate change. Data sources include compilations from WorldAtlas, TradingEconomics, Berkeley Earth, and WMO (see end for details).

Methodology Explanation

Main Indicator: Average Annual Temperature (°C)

This is the value obtained by weighting the daily temperatures of the entire year according to the country’s observation stations or grid data, used to represent the “overall climate warmth and coldness”.

Differences in Caliber

Different data products (WMO / Berkeley Earth / TradingEconomics / NASA GISTEMP) differ in station selection, grid resolution, and time baseline (e.g., 1961–1990 vs 1991–2020), so there will be small differences in values. The Top 10 ranking used in the article is based on public compilations (comprehensive lists from WorldAtlas / VisualCapitalist / TradingEconomics), and the source/year is indicated in each country entry for verification.

At a Glance — Top 10 (by average annual temperature, from lowest to highest, including dependencies/territories)

Note: Most public lists rank Greenland (Greenland, dependency of Denmark) as the coldest item; if you only want the “sovereign country” ranking, please see the “Alternative List” below. Data are compiled values from recent years (unit: °C). Sources are noted in each row.

Rank	Country / Region	Average Annual Temp (°C)	Explanation / Data Source
—	Greenland (Greenland, dependency of Denmark)	−18.5	WorldAtlas / TradingEconomics (dependency, including ice sheet)
1	Canada	≈ −2.9	WorldAtlas / TradingEconomics (nationwide weighted)
2	Russia	≈ −2.8	WorldAtlas / Berkeley Earth (Siberia vast, including extremely cold areas)
3	Iceland	≈ 1.8	WorldAtlas / TradingEconomics (influenced by maritime climate)
4	Mongolia	≈ 1.8	WorldAtlas / TradingEconomics (continental climate, cold winter with large daily temperature range)
5	Norway	≈ 2.3	WorldAtlas / WMO (colder when including Svalbard)
6	Finland	≈ 2.9	TradingEconomics / WorldAtlas (mix of Nordic continental and maritime climate)
7	Sweden	≈ 3.4	TradingEconomics / WorldAtlas
8	Kyrgyzstan	≈ 4.3	WorldAtlas (plateau and mountain climate)
9	Tajikistan	≈ 5.7	WorldAtlas (high-altitude areas cold but can be warm during the day)
10	Estonia	≈ 6.9	WorldAtlas (influenced by Baltic Sea climate)

Alternative (only sovereign countries, excluding dependencies/autonomous territories): If Greenland is removed, the top is usually Canada / Russia / Iceland (order adjusted slightly depending on data source). Different publishing agencies have deviations in ranking.

Why Are These Places So Cold? (Understandable at a Glance from Geography and Climatology)

High Latitude and Polar Region Effects

The Arctic Circle and near-Arctic regions have extreme day-night cycles and solar altitude, leading to long-term low temperatures (e.g., Greenland, northern Canada, northern Russia).

Continental Climate

Inland high-latitude or plateau areas far from the ocean (e.g., Russian Siberia, Mongolia, Kazakh Plateau) have hot summers and cold winters with large annual ranges, resulting in lower average temperatures.

High Altitude

Central Asian high mountains, such as parts of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, have high altitudes, which lower the average temperature.

Ice Sheet/Permanent Ice and Snow Cover

Greenland’s huge ice sheet directly lowers the national average temperature. (The above mechanisms are textbook-level reasons in climatology; WMO and Berkeley Earth have more detailed explanations.)

Data Visualization

CSV：

Bar Chart：

Country-by-Country Comments

1. Canada — Average Temperature ≈ −2.9°C

Source: WorldAtlas / TradingEconomics

Canada is a giant of ice and snow in the Northern Hemisphere, with vast territory stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific and north to the Arctic Ocean. The northern regions of Nunavut and Yukon can reach −40°C in winter, but southern areas like Vancouver have mild climates. Frozen lakes, extensive coniferous forests, and the aurora borealis intertwine to create the unique poetry of Canadian winters. Despite the cold, Canadians love outdoor skiing, ice hockey, and winter camping, and this spirit of dancing with nature is a reflection of their culture.

2. Russia — Average Temperature ≈ −2.8°C

Source: WorldAtlas / Berkeley

Earth Russia’s coldness has almost become its symbol. Spanning the Eurasian continent, its Siberia region has winter average temperatures as low as −40°C. Yakutsk is known as the “coldest city on Earth,” while Moscow is covered in snow in winter. Russians use saunas, vodka, and heavy fur coats to withstand the long winter. The cold breeds resilience and romance; in the works of Pushkin and Tchaikovsky, one can feel the resonance between snow and the soul.

3. Iceland — Average Temperature ≈ 1.8°C

Source: WorldAtlas / TradingEconomics

Despite its name “Iceland,” it has a mild climate due to the influence of the North Atlantic Current. Volcanoes and glaciers coexist, and the aurora dances with hot springs—Iceland’s nature is a balance of extremes. In the capital Reykjavik, street lights are gentle in winter, and people soak in geothermal hot springs, feeling the interplay of the earth’s heat and the Arctic cold.

4. Mongolia — Average Temperature ≈ 1.8°C

Source: WorldAtlas / TradingEconomics

Mongolia has a typical continental climate, with long and harsh winters. The capital Ulaanbaatar is one of the coldest capitals in the world. Winds sweep the grasslands, snow covers the hills, and herders warm themselves by fires in yurts wrapped in sheepskin. The daily temperature range is large, but the vastness of the grasslands and the purity of the starry sky inspire awe.

5. Norway — Average Temperature ≈ 2.3°C

Source: WorldAtlas / WMO

Norway is known for its fjords and aurora. The northern Svalbard archipelago is perennially frozen, while southern Oslo is relatively mild. Norwegians respect nature and make good use of light; during the winter “polar night,” candles and coffee become the warmth of life. The cold is not loneliness, but a quiet romance.

6. Finland — Average Temperature ≈ 2.9°C

Source: TradingEconomics / WorldAtlas

Known as the “land of a thousand lakes,” Finland has snow-covered lakes and silver-clad forests in winter. People enjoy saunas, hot drinks, and the tranquility of the snow. It is the hometown of Santa Claus and one of the countries with the highest happiness index. The chilly climate does not seem to diminish their smiles but instead purifies the relationship between people and nature.

7. Sweden — Average Temperature ≈ 3.4°C

Source: TradingEconomics / WorldAtlas

Sweden’s winters are bright and restrained. The Stockholm archipelago is covered in snow, and street lamps sway in the fog. People here advocate “Lagom” (the principle of moderation)—not too much, not too little, just right. Swedes have learned to find balance in the cold, from design to mindset, all with temperature.

8. Kyrgyzstan — Average Temperature ≈ 4.3°C

Source: WorldAtlas

Located in the Central Asian highlands, Kyrgyzstan is surrounded by mountains, with cold and crisp winters. Snow persists in the valleys, and Lake Issyk-Kul shines like a blue gem amid the ice. The life rhythm of herders symbiotically follows the seasons, and white yurts appear serene and resilient in the wind and snow.

9. Tajikistan — Average Temperature ≈ 5.7°C

Source: WorldAtlas

Tajikistan has a roof-of-the-world-like landscape, with cold and thin high-altitude areas. The Pamir Plateau is snow-covered year-round, but the days are sunny. Though the climate is harsh, people retain ancient warmth and hospitality. Here, the cold is more like a lofty poetry.

10. Estonia — Average Temperature ≈ 6.9°C

Source: WorldAtlas

Estonia, on the shores of the Baltic Sea, has quiet and elegant winters. Forests cover more than half of the country, and snowflakes fall lightly on pine branches. The cobblestone streets of Tallinn’s old town are snow-dusted, with dim yellow lights like a fairy tale. Estonia, where technology and nature coexist, uses digital warmth to light up the northern nights.

Climate Change: The Paradox of Coldest and Warming Coexisting

Polar Amplification

The Arctic and ice sheet regions are warming at a rate much higher than the global average, so even though the “coldest” countries are still cold overall, the high rate of warming has particularly severe impacts on ecology and infrastructure.

More Frequent Extreme Events

Cold countries are not immune to heat waves or extremely warm winters; climate change brings “pattern changes” rather than one-way warming.

Conclusion

The coldest places are not just numbers: their architecture, economic models, cultural habits, and ecology all revolve around the cold. Understanding the “coldest countries” is not just about reading the thermometer, but also about understanding how they coexist with extreme environments and seek adaptation and innovation in the wave of climate change. We hope this article not only helps readers “understand the list” but also inspires further interest in local humanities and climate science.

Data Sources

WorldAtlas — “The 10 Coldest Countries In The World (2025)”WorldAtlas

TradingEconomics — Country average temperature pages Trading Economics

Berkeley Earth — Temperature country dataset Berkeley Earth

VisualCapitalist — “10 Hottest and Coldest Countries” visualcapitalist

WMO / NASA / NOAA — Condé Nast Traveler