What is the typical litter size for a polar bear?

The typical litter size for a polar bear is two cubs.

Polar bears usually give birth in a snow den during the Arctic winter. Newborn cubs are extremely small compared with their mother, blind, toothless and dependent on her rich milk for warmth and rapid growth. The mother generally remains in the den with them until they are developed enough to travel across the sea ice.

Polar bear reproduction includes delayed implantation: after mating, the embryo pauses before attaching to the uterine wall. This allows births to occur at a season that gives cubs the best chance of survival. Although the overall pregnancy period lasts roughly seven to nine months, active fetal development lasts only about two months.

Two cubs is typical, but litters can vary. A mother may give birth to one cub, while larger litters are possible but less common. The cubs normally stay with their mother for more than two years, learning how to move over sea ice and hunt seals. This long period of maternal care is crucial because young polar bears cannot survive independently in the demanding Arctic environment.