So, which country really has the most polar bears? It’s not as mysterious as you might think once you dig into where these bears live and how researchers actually count them.
Let’s follow the trail—maps, population estimates, and habitat ranges—to figure out which country claims the most of these Arctic giants.
Canada hosts about two-thirds of all polar bears worldwide. That’s a huge share. Let’s break down those numbers by region, explore why Canada’s Arctic matters so much, and look at what might shake things up in the future.
Global Polar Bear Population by Country
So, where do most polar bears actually live? Canada holds the biggest chunk, but Alaska, Russia, Greenland, and Norway also have important populations.
Numbers change depending on the study, but Canada’s share is way out in front.
Canada: The World’s Largest Polar Bear Population
Canada has about 15,000–16,000 polar bears, which is roughly two-thirds of the world’s total. Most of them hang out along Hudson Bay, the Beaufort Sea, and Arctic islands like Baffin and Victoria.
Churchill, Manitoba—often called the polar bear capital of the world—sees a big influx every autumn as bears wait for the sea ice to return.
Canada splits its polar bear territory into several management zones. These zones help guide research, hunting rules, and community safety plans.
Scientists track trends in each zone since a drop in one area might not show up in the overall numbers.
For more details on national estimates and regional groups, check out the country breakdown and global estimate.
Polar Bears in Alaska, United States
Alaska shares three polar bear populations with its neighbors and has around 4,000–7,000 bears in total. The main groups are the Southern Beaufort, Northern Beaufort, and Chukchi Sea populations.
The Southern Beaufort group has dropped in numbers, mostly because of sea ice loss and more encounters with people.
If you live in Alaska, safety planning really matters when bears come near towns. State and federal agencies use monitoring, deterrence, and community education to keep conflicts down.
Management mixes state rules with federal protections to balance subsistence hunting and conservation.
You can find U.S. federal figures and more info in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife summary.
Polar Bear Populations in Russia, Greenland, and Norway
Russia has about 3,000 polar bears spread across Arctic islands and coastal zones like Novaya Zemlya and Wrangel Island. Wrangel Island is a big deal for maternity dens and breeding.
The size of Russia’s coastline means your odds of seeing a bear really depend on where you are.
Greenland’s polar bears mostly stick to fjords and the northern coast, with a few thousand estimated. Harsh weather and shifting sea ice affect both hunting and bear movement.
Greenland blends traditional Inuit practices with modern tracking to manage its bears.
Norway’s polar bears live mainly on the Svalbard archipelago, with a population in the low thousands. Svalbard enforces strict protection rules and controls on tourism to keep people and bears apart.
For more on how populations break down by country and region, see the IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group population status.
Polar Bear Habitats and Threats
Polar bears need sea ice across the Arctic Circle for hunting, breeding, and raising cubs. Their biggest threats come from melting ice, less access to seals, and spending more time near people on land.
The Importance of Sea Ice in Polar Bear Survival
Sea ice lets polar bears hunt seals, their main food. They wait at breathing holes or break through the ice to catch ringed and bearded seals.
Without stable ice, bears have to cover more ground and swim farther, which takes a lot of energy. For young bears, these long swims can mean real danger.
Female polar bears dig dens in stable sea ice or on nearby land to give birth and nurse cubs. These denning spots need to stay quiet and have enough snow.
If the ice forms later or melts sooner, denning times shrink and fewer cubs survive.
Sea ice shapes where polar bears can go throughout the North Pole regions and along the coasts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, Norway, and Alaska.
Access to prey, mates, and safe resting spots all hinge on that seasonal frozen platform.
Impacts of Climate Change on Polar Bear Populations
Warming air and ocean temperatures shrink the sea ice that polar bears depend on. When the ice pulls back, bears spend more time on land, where seals are hard to find.
That shift can lead to lower body weight, fewer cubs, and a higher risk of starvation.
Bears may show up near towns more often as they look for food, which raises safety concerns. Climate change also messes with seal patterns and when the ice forms, so hunting windows get shorter and less predictable.
Scientists keep an eye on populations and have seen declines in some areas. Actions that cut greenhouse gas emissions and protect key denning and feeding spots could help keep polar bear habitats around for future generations.
Comparison With Other Bear Species
Brown bears and grizzly bears mostly stick to land—think forests, tundra, and mountains. You’ll spot them across big stretches of North America and Eurasia, where they munch on plants, hunt fish, and sometimes go after land mammals too.
Polar bears, though, look and live pretty differently. Their white fur and chunkier bodies help them handle the cold, and they really count on fat-rich seal blubber to survive. Brown and grizzly bears eat a wider mix of foods and usually roam smaller areas since their meals come from the land.
Because of these habits, polar bears face bigger risks when sea ice disappears. Brown and grizzly bears just aren’t tied to the ice in the same way.
Sometimes, polar bears end up on shore more often and might bump into brown or grizzly bears along the coast. Even then, they’re still pretty different—polar bears evolved to rely on that frozen Arctic seascape, setting them apart in the bear world.
