The World’s Most Uninhabited Places and Why These Countries Stay Empty

What if you stumbled upon a country where nobody lives? Sounds like something out of a dystopian novel, right? Yet, there are real-life places in the world that are eerily empty—countries that are virtually uninhabited. But why? Is it geography, climate, or something deeper at play? In this video, we’re diving into some of the most uninhabited countries on the planet and exploring the reasons behind their emptiness. Let’s uncover what makes these places so uniquely devoid of human life.”

1. Canada

Canada’s sparse population is primarily a result of:

Climate: The majority of Canada is located in the northern latitudes, where the climate is cold for most of the year. The country has long, harsh winters, particularly in the northern territories.

Canadian Shield: The Canadian Shield, a vast area of exposed rock, covers much of the country and is unsuitable for agriculture. This limits the areas that can sustain dense populations.
Geographic Concentration: Due to the harsh conditions in the north, about 90% of the population lives within 100 miles of the U.S. border. The regions further north, including the three territories, remain sparsely populated due to the extreme cold and remoteness.

2. Suriname

Suriname’s low population density can be explained by:

Amazon Rainforest: Suriname is primarily covered by the Amazon Rainforest, which makes development extremely difficult. The dense jungle, dangerous wildlife, and lack of infrastructure in the interior make settlement almost impossible.
Climate: The humid tropical climate and constant rain make much of the country difficult to build in. Even the coastal regions, which are populated, face extreme flooding every year.
Economic Struggles: Suriname has faced economic challenges and political instability, which has slowed population growth. The population is primarily concentrated in the capital Paramaribo, while the interior remains virtually untouched.

3. Iceland

Iceland’s low population can be attributed to:

Geographic Isolation: Iceland is located in the North Atlantic Ocean, far from other population centers. Its isolation made early settlement difficult, and the harsh weather conditions continue to keep the population small.
Volcanic Activity: Iceland is located on the boundary of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, making it highly active volcanically. Eruptions have historically destroyed settlements and made large portions of the land inhospitable.

Limited Arable Land: Only about 20% of Iceland’s land is habitable, and much of it is covered by glaciers, lava fields, and tundra. The volcanic landscape is beautiful but difficult for large-scale agriculture, forcing reliance on imports for food production.

4. Guyana

Guyana faces population challenges due to:

Amazon Rainforest: The country is overwhelmingly covered by the Amazon Rainforest, which makes large-scale settlement and development impractical. The dense jungle and lack of infrastructure mean that much of the country is uninhabited.

Geographic Isolation: The capital, Georgetown, is remote, with no easy access to other parts of the country or neighboring regions. This isolation limits migration and economic expansion into the interior.
Economic and Social Issues: Guyana struggles with poverty, which drives many residents to seek better opportunities abroad, leading to significant emigration.

5. Australia

Australia’s low population density results from:

Outback: The Outback covers about 70% of the country and is mostly uninhabitable due to its dry conditions, lack of water, and extreme temperatures.
Geographic Isolation: Australia is located far from other population centers, which historically hindered trade and development.
Climate: The country is the driest inhabited continent, with limited access to fresh water. Many areas lack the necessary resources to sustain large populations, and those that do are often concentrated along the coastline.

Urbanization: With such a vast country and limited habitable land, much of Australia’s population is concentrated in a few major cities, leaving much of the interior sparsely populated.

6. Namibia

Namibia’s sparse population is influenced by:

Desert: The Namib Desert is one of the oldest and driest deserts in the world, with extremely low rainfall and harsh conditions. This limits the amount of land suitable for human habitation.

Coastal Fog: The collision of cold ocean currents with the hot desert air creates a persistent fog along the coast, making it difficult for ships to navigate and historically hindering settlement.
Inaccessible Terrain: Even though Namibia has some of the world’s most beautiful landscapes, vast regions are difficult to access and inhabit, with limited infrastructure beyond the coastal areas and a few inland cities.

7. Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan, while being one of the largest countries in the world, has a sparse population due to several factors:

Geography: With vast deserts and mountains, much of the country is not suitable for settlement. The central part of the country is dominated by the Kazakh Steppe, which is characterized by arid conditions and a harsh continental climate.
Climate: The country experiences extreme temperature fluctuations, with summer highs reaching up to 45°C and winter lows plunging to -40°C. This makes it difficult for human habitation outside the few temperate regions.
Historical Events: The forced relocation of Kazakhs and the famine under Soviet rule decimated the population, and its recovery has been slow. Additionally, the Soviet Union’s nuclear tests in Kazakhstan left lasting environmental scars, further reducing the population.

Landlocked: As a landlocked country, Kazakhstan lacks easy access to trade routes, which has historically hindered economic development and population growth.

8. Mauritania

Mauritania faces its own set of challenges:

Lack of Water: Mauritania is one of the driest countries in the world, with over 90% of its land covered by the Sahara Desert. The only reliable water source is the Senegal River, which accounts for most of the arable land in the country.

Desertification: The expansion of the Sahara Desert over recent decades has led to more land becoming uninhabitable. As desertification continues, more regions become inaccessible.
Geographic Isolation: Due to its sparse infrastructure (only 3,700 km of roads), much of the country is effectively cut off from the rest of the world, making it harder for people to settle or establish significant populations outside the few urban areas along the coast.

9. Botswana

Botswana’s low population density is linked to:

HIV/AIDS Epidemic: Botswana was hit especially hard by the HIV/AIDS crisis, with about 40% of the population affected in the early 2000s. This drastically reduced the population, with many people succumbing to the disease or living with it for years, leading to lower birth rates.
Kalahari Desert: While parts of Botswana have fertile land, the vast majority of the country is covered by the Kalahari Desert. Despite being semi-arid rather than true desert, the region still has limited agricultural potential.
Health and Economic Impact: While Botswana has made significant strides in combating HIV, the long-lasting social and economic effects have kept the population growth rate lower than would be expected in such a resource-rich country.

10. Libya

Libya’s low population is tied to:

Sahara Desert: Similar to Mauritania, Libya is mostly covered by the Sahara Desert, with over 90% of the land being uninhabitable. The desert environment is harsh, and water sources are scarce.
Geographic Factors: Although Libya has coastlines along the Mediterranean Sea and some rivers, the vast interior is inaccessible due to the desert. The Great Man-Made River project, which pumps water from aquifers, has allowed for some population concentration along the coast, but it hasn’t been enough to make the entire country livable.

Political Instability: Libya has faced significant political turmoil in recent years, which has caused many people to leave or avoid settling in the country. The political instability has hindered development, making it difficult to expand population centers beyond the coast.

11. Mongolia

Mongolia, despite its vast land area, has one of the lowest population densities due to several factors:

Harsh Climate: Mongolia is one of the coldest countries in the world, with long, harsh winters where temperatures can plunge to -40°C. The winters are dry and extreme, while summers are short and hot. This severe climate makes it difficult for large populations to sustain themselves.

Landlocked and Geographic Features: Mongolia is a landlocked country bordered by China and Russia, with vast stretches of steppe and desert, particularly the Gobi Desert. The inhospitable desert landscape is difficult for human habitation and agriculture.
Nomadic Lifestyle: Traditionally, Mongolians have been a nomadic people, with a large portion of the population still living in tents (gers) and moving frequently. This lifestyle inherently leads to a lower concentration of people in one area.
Limited Urban Development: Most of Mongolia’s population is concentrated in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, leaving vast stretches of land sparsely populated. The lack of infrastructure outside of urban areas contributes to the country’s low population density.

12. Greenland

Greenland is technically part of Denmark but stands as an autonomous region with its own government. It has one of the lowest population densities in the world due to a combination of extreme geographical and environmental conditions:

Arctic Climate: Greenland lies mostly within the Arctic Circle, with long, bitterly cold winters and short, cool summers. The ice sheet that covers around 80% of the island makes it largely uninhabitable. The coastal regions are the only areas where human settlement is possible.
Geography and Terrain: While Greenland is large in size, its landscape is dominated by glaciers and ice caps, leaving very little usable land for agriculture or settlement. The terrain is rocky and rugged, making transportation and development difficult.

Isolation: Greenland is extremely isolated, with limited access to the outside world. Its remoteness and the challenge of transporting goods and people in and out have made large-scale population growth impractical.
Limited Resources: Despite having natural resources such as minerals and fish, Greenland’s harsh conditions, geographic isolation, and dependence on imports for most goods make it difficult for a large population to thrive there.

Common Factors Across These Countries:

Harsh Climates: Many of these countries are located in extreme climates, whether it be the freezing cold of Greenland and Mongolia, or the hot, arid conditions of the Sahara and Kalahari Deserts. These environments make survival and settlement difficult, leading to sparse populations.

Geographic Isolation: Many of these countries are either isolated by oceans or landlocked with few natural trade routes. This isolation hampers economic growth, development, and the attraction of new populations.
Limited Infrastructure: Many of these regions, particularly those in deserts or arctic climates, lack the necessary infrastructure to support large populations. Roads, electricity, water, and healthcare are often concentrated in a few urban centers, leaving the majority of the country sparsely populated.
Historical and Social Factors: In some countries, historical events such as disease, war, or colonial practices have had a significant impact on population growth. Some countries still have remnants of these effects, which contribute to their low population densities.

Natural Barriers to Settlement: Deserts, mountains, dense forests, and glaciers all pose natural barriers to human settlement. These landscapes are difficult to navigate and can severely limit where people can live.

Despite their low population densities, many of these countries are rich in natural resources or have significant cultural, historical, or economic potential. Their population densities may be low, but they often play an important role in the global community in ways that transcend mere population size.