Introduction
Remoteness is measured by distance to the nearest inhabited land. Some islands are so isolated that they were among the last places on Earth discovered by humans.
These islands offer a window into what the world looks like without human interference, though even the most remote are now affected by ocean plastic pollution.
1. Bouvet Island
- Distance to Nearest Land: 1,700 km
- Location: South Atlantic
- Country: Norway
- Population: 0
Bouvet Island is the most remote island on Earth. It is an uninhabited, glacier-covered volcanic island roughly equidistant from Antarctica and South Africa.
The island was discovered in 1739 and has been visited only a handful of times. It is a nature reserve with no permanent structures.
2. Tristan da Cunha
- Distance to Nearest Land: 2,400 km to South Africa
- Population: 245
- Location: South Atlantic
- Country: British Overseas Territory
Tristan da Cunha is the most remote inhabited island in the world. Its 245 residents live in the settlement of Edinburgh of the Seven Seas.
There is no airport. Supply ships visit only a few times per year. The island has one TV channel and limited internet.
3. Easter Island (Rapa Nui)
- Distance to Nearest Land: 3,510 km to Chile
- Population: ~7,700
- Location: South Pacific
- Famous for: Moai statues
Easter Island is one of the most isolated inhabited places on Earth. The Rapa Nui people created the famous Moai statues between 1250 and 1500 AD.
The island's civilization collapsed due to environmental degradation, serving as a cautionary tale about sustainability.
4. Pitcairn Islands
- Distance to Nearest Land: 5,300 km to New Zealand
- Population: ~47
- Location: South Pacific
- Country: British Overseas Territory
Pitcairn is one of the least populated jurisdictions in the world. It was settled in 1790 by the HMS Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions.
There is no airport or harbor. Visitors must transfer from ships to longboats through the surf.
5. South Georgia Island
- Distance to Nearest Population: 1,300 km to Falklands
- Population: ~30 (researchers)
- Location: South Atlantic
- Country: British territory
South Georgia is a sub-Antarctic island famous for its enormous wildlife populations. King penguin colonies can number over 100,000 birds.
Ernest Shackleton's legendary survival journey ended here in 1916 after his ship was crushed by Antarctic ice.
6. Kerguelen Islands
- Distance to Nearest Land: 3,300 km to any continent
- Population: ~70 (researchers)
- Location: Southern Indian Ocean
- Country: France
The Kerguelen Islands are nicknamed the "Desolation Islands" due to their bleak, windswept landscape. There has been a French research station since 1950.
The islands have no airport. Supply ships from Reunion Island visit only four times per year.
7. Heard Island
- Distance to Nearest Land: 1,600 km to Kerguelen
- Population: 0
- Location: Southern Indian Ocean
- Country: Australia
Heard Island is one of the most remote islands in the world and home to Big Ben, a 2,745m active volcano. The island is covered almost entirely by glaciers.
It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, protected as one of the few places on Earth never permanently altered by humans.
8. St. Helena
- Distance to Nearest Land: 1,950 km to Angola
- Population: ~4,400
- Location: South Atlantic
- Famous for: Napoleon's exile
St. Helena is famous as the place where Napoleon was exiled after his defeat at Waterloo. He lived and died on the island between 1815 and 1821.
The island got its first airport only in 2017, ending its total dependence on ship travel.
9. Socotra
- Distance to Nearest Land: 350 km to Somalia
- Population: ~60,000
- Location: Indian Ocean
- Country: Yemen
Socotra is called the "Galapagos of the Indian Ocean" for its extraordinary biodiversity. A third of its plant species are found nowhere else on Earth.
The dragon blood tree, with its distinctive umbrella shape, is the island's most iconic species.
10. Norfolk Island
- Distance to Nearest Land: 1,400 km to Australia
- Population: ~2,000
- Location: South Pacific
- Country: Australia
Norfolk Island was used as a brutal penal colony in the 1800s. Today it is home to descendants of the Bounty mutineers who relocated from Pitcairn in 1856.
The island has a unique Norfuk language, a blend of 18th-century English and Tahitian.
Key Facts
- Bouvet Island is the most remote island on Earth, 1,700 km from the nearest land.
- Tristan da Cunha's 245 residents make it the most remote inhabited island.
- Many remote islands have unique species found nowhere else due to millions of years of isolation.
- Several remote islands have no airport and can only be reached by ship.
- Remote islands are increasingly important for scientific research on climate change and biodiversity.
Fun Facts
- Tristan da Cunha's residents all share just seven surnames due to the tiny founding population.
- Easter Island's Moai statues were moved from quarries to their current locations, but the exact method is still debated.
- Pitcairn's entire population descends from 9 Bounty mutineers and 18 Polynesians.
- Socotra's dragon blood tree produces a red sap that was used as a dye and medicine since ancient times.
Final Thoughts
These remote islands represent the furthest edges of human habitation. Their isolation has created unique cultures, ecosystems, and stories that fascinate explorers and scientists alike.