Which ocean is the smallest of Earth's five oceans?

The Arctic Ocean is the smallest of Earth’s five oceans.

It covers roughly 14.06 million square kilometres, making it smaller than the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and Southern oceans. It is also the shallowest major ocean, with an average depth of about 1,038 metres. The ocean surrounds the North Pole and is bordered by North America, Eurasia, and Greenland.

Sea ice covers much of the Arctic Ocean, expanding during winter and shrinking during summer. Its waters have the lowest average salinity of the five oceans because of heavy river inflow, relatively low evaporation, and limited exchange with other oceans. The Arctic connects to the Pacific through the Bering Strait and to the Atlantic through passages near Greenland and Iceland.

A common mix-up is confusing the Arctic Ocean with the Southern Ocean. The Southern Ocean encircles Antarctica and is considerably larger; the Arctic Ocean is the polar ocean centred on the North Pole.