The Arctic Ocean shapes the northern edge of the planet, carving long coastlines and influencing climate, shipping routes, and communities across several nations. Coastal geography, seasonal sea ice and nearby seas make the region geopolitically and environmentally distinct from lower latitudes.
There are 6 countries that border the arctic ocean, ranging from Canada to United States. For each nation you’ll find below a compact table organized with the columns Flag, Arctic coastline (km), Bordering Arctic seas — you’ll find that information below.
Which countries border the Arctic Ocean?
The six countries are Canada; Denmark (via Greenland); Iceland; Norway; Russia; and the United States (Alaska). Greenland is listed under Denmark for sovereignty purposes, and some coastlines are counted by adjacent seas that connect to the Arctic Ocean.
Which country has the longest Arctic coastline?
Russia has the longest Arctic coastline by a wide margin, followed by Canada; exact rankings and lengths vary depending on measurement method and whether you include island coastlines. For practical comparisons, coastline figures in the table below use commonly cited national estimates.
Countries that Border the Arctic Ocean
| Country | Flag | Arctic coastline (km) | Bordering Arctic seas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 🇨🇦 | 118,000 | Beaufort Sea, Lincoln Sea, Lancaster Sound, Baffin Bay |
| Denmark | 🇩🇰 | 44,000 | Greenland Sea, Baffin Bay, Lincoln Sea, Denmark Strait |
| Russia | 🇷🇺 | 37,653 | Barents Sea, Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, East Siberian Sea, Chukchi Sea |
| Norway | 🇳🇴 | 25,000 | Barents Sea, Norwegian Sea, Greenland Sea |
| United States | 🇺🇸 | 4,700 | Chukchi Sea, Beaufort Sea |
| Iceland | 🇮🇸 | 4,970 | Greenland Sea, Norwegian Sea, Denmark Strait |
Descriptions
Canada
Canada’s Arctic coastline runs along the northern mainland and Arctic Archipelago from the Beaufort Sea to Baffin Bay. Extensive islands, fjords and channels make it one of the longest Arctic shorelines, central for Inuit communities and polar ecosystems.
Denmark
Denmark’s Arctic territory is Greenland, whose vast ice sheet and deeply indented coast borders the Greenland Sea, Baffin Bay and Lincoln Sea. Greenland is famous for massive fjords, icebergs, Inuit settlements and strategic importance in Arctic research.
Russia
Russia has the longest Arctic shoreline, spanning the Barents, Kara, Laptev, East Siberian and Chukchi seas. Its Arctic coasts include vast tundra, offshore shelves and many islands, making Russia pivotal for shipping lanes, resources and northern communities.
Norway
Norway’s Arctic coast includes the northern mainland and Svalbard, touching the Barents, Norwegian and Greenland seas. Deep fjords, rich fisheries and the Svalbard archipelago give Norway significant scientific, economic and strategic roles in the Arctic.
United States
The United States’ Arctic shoreline lies in Alaska along the Chukchi and Beaufort seas. Remote tundra coasts, indigenous communities and offshore resources make Alaska central to US Arctic policy, climate studies and potential shipping routes.
Iceland
Iceland’s rugged island coastline meets the Greenland and Norwegian seas. With cliffs, fjords and volcanic shores, Iceland is smaller in Arctic extent but important for northern fisheries, weather systems and scientific monitoring of North Atlantic–Arctic interactions.
