The Truth About 90° North: 5 Astonishing Facts About Who (or What) Lives At The North Pole

The question of whether anyone lives at the North Pole is one of the world's most enduring mysteries, driven by both scientific curiosity and the enduring legend of Santa Claus. As of December 2025, the definitive, scientific answer is a resounding "no"—at least for the exact point of the Geographic North Pole at 90° North. This extreme location, a constantly shifting sheet of pack ice over the deep Arctic Ocean, simply cannot support permanent human habitation. However, the story is far more complex and fascinating when you consider the nearby communities, the dedicated scientists, and the town that literally shares its name.

The confusion largely stems from the difference between the actual planetary pole and the human settlements that exist nearby. While the precise North Pole remains an uninhabited, frozen wilderness, the broader Arctic region is home to millions, and one specific city in Alaska has embraced the famous name and all its festive connotations. This article will break down the reality of life at 90° North and explore the closest permanent residents to the top of the world.

The Geographic North Pole: Why Permanent Life is Impossible

When most people ask if someone lives at the North Pole, they are referring to the planet's rotational axis, the point at 90 degrees North latitude. This specific location is one of the most hostile and least hospitable environments on Earth, making it fundamentally incompatible with a permanent population.

• The Untouchable Privacy 7 Secrets Of Rachel Mcadams And Jamie Lindens Life Beyond The Red Carpet E820e

The Challenge of the Arctic Ocean

Unlike the South Pole, which sits on the continental landmass of Antarctica, the Geographic North Pole is situated in the middle of the Arctic Ocean. The "land" you would stand on is nothing more than a constantly moving layer of frozen seawater, known as pack ice.

• No Fixed Land: The ice sheet is always drifting, making it impossible to construct any permanent structures, homes, or even a functional year-round research station directly at 90° N.
• Extreme Cold: Temperatures can plummet far below freezing, and the region experiences months of complete darkness during the polar night.
• Logistical Nightmare: Resupply and emergency evacuation are prohibitively difficult and expensive, requiring specialized icebreakers, aircraft, or temporary ice runways.

Therefore, while explorers, military personnel, and scientists frequently visit the pole, they are strictly temporary residents, often staying for a few days or weeks before returning to mainland bases. The closest *permanent* scientific presence often comes from temporary "ice camps" or drifting research buoys, like those used by the North Pole Environmental Observatory, which are not permanent human habitats.

The Closest Permanent Human Settlements to the North Pole

If no one lives at the exact pole, where is the closest permanent civilian hub? The answer lies hundreds of miles away, in a remote Norwegian archipelago and in the far north of Canada.

• The Surprise Vegas Wedding And Shared Grief 5 Shocking Details Of John Schneider And Dee Dee Sorvinos Whirlwind Romance Ohirf

1. Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway

The northernmost permanent civilian settlement on Earth is widely considered to be Longyearbyen, located on the Svalbard archipelago in Norway.

• Proximity: Longyearbyen is situated approximately 800 miles (about 1,300 km) from the Geographic North Pole.
• Population: It has a stable, permanent population of over 2,000 residents, supported by coal mining, tourism, and research activities.
• Unique Rules: Svalbard has a unique treaty status, and the town is famous for its strict laws, including a prohibition on dying there due to the permafrost preventing decomposition.

2. Alert, Nunavut, Canada

Even closer, though not a "civilian hub," is a military and scientific outpost on the northern tip of Ellesmere Island in Nunavut, Canada. Alert is the northernmost permanently inhabited place in the world.

• Function: It serves as a Canadian Forces Station (CFS) and a weather station.
• Staff: The population consists of rotating military and meteorological staff, not permanent residents who call it home in the traditional sense.

North Pole, Alaska: The Town with the Name

The biggest source of confusion is the actual incorporated city of North Pole, Alaska. This community is a real, functioning city with permanent residents, but it is located about 1,700 miles (2,700 km) south of the actual Geographic North Pole.

• The Chilling True Story 5 Key Facts About Richard Evonitz The Serial Killer Who Kidnapped Kara Robinson Chamberlain Xpjje

Population and Demographics

Yes, people absolutely live in North Pole, Alaska. It is a suburb of Fairbanks and a key community within the Fairbanks North Star Borough.

• Current Population: The city's population continues to grow. The 2020 census counted 2,243 residents, and projections for 2025 estimate the population to be around 2,591.
• Local Economy: The town is a small commercial center, featuring restaurants, supermarkets, and a shopping center near the Richardson Highway.
• Unique Identity: North Pole, Alaska, fully embraces its name. Streetlights are decorated like candy canes, and streets have names like Santa Claus Lane and Kris Kringle Drive. It is home to the famous Santa Claus House, which receives thousands of letters addressed to Santa from around the world every year.

This community is the closest you will find to a "North Pole" with permanent families, schools, and a civilian life, though it's important to remember it is nowhere near the 90° N latitude line.

Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic: The True Permanent Residents of the North

While the Geographic North Pole is uninhabited, the vast Arctic region—the area surrounding the pole—is home to millions of people who have lived there for millennia. These are the true permanent residents of the Far North, with cultures and lives adapted to the extreme climate.

The Arctic is home to approximately four million people, including a significant number of Indigenous Peoples. Their communities, while not at 90° N, are the northernmost permanent human settlements with a deep historical connection to the land and sea ice. Key groups include:

• The Inuit: Descendants of the Thule culture, they primarily inhabit the Arctic regions of Canada, Greenland, and Alaska.
• The Yupik/Yupiit: Residing in southwestern Alaska and the Russian Far East.
• The Unangan (Aleut): Historically inhabiting the Aleutian Islands.

These groups, along with others like the Sámi of Scandinavia and Russia, possess unparalleled knowledge of the Arctic environment. Their homes are stable, permanent communities that thrive in a region that modern explorers only visit temporarily. Their presence underscores a vital distinction: the Arctic is not empty; it is a homeland, even if the absolute pole remains a scientific and geographical marker only.

The Final Verdict: A North Pole Resident Checklist

The answer to "does anyone live at the North Pole" depends entirely on which North Pole you are asking about. The intention-based curiosity of the question is satisfied by understanding the three main "North Poles" and their respective populations.

1. The Geographic North Pole (90° N): No permanent residents. It is a shifting expanse of pack ice over the Arctic Ocean. Only temporary visitors (explorers, scientists) are present.
2. The City of North Pole, Alaska: Yes, a permanent, civilian population of over 2,500 people, projected for 2025. This is a city that fully embraces the Santa Claus mythos.
3. The Wider Arctic Region: Yes, millions of people, including Indigenous Peoples like the Inuit, Yupik, and Unangan, live in permanent, established communities for thousands of years.

In the end, while the exact top of the world remains a desolate, frozen, and uninhabitable point on the map, the spirit of the North Pole is kept alive by the dedicated researchers who brave its extremes, the vibrant communities of the Arctic Indigenous Peoples, and the cheerful, snow-dusted town in Alaska that proudly keeps the legend of Santa Claus alive.