Which ocean is the smallest of the world’s five oceans?

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

It surrounds the North Pole and is bordered by Eurasia and North America. With an area of roughly 14 million square kilometres, it is far smaller than the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and Southern oceans. Much of its surface experiences seasonal or longer-lasting sea ice, although the extent changes substantially through the year.

The Arctic Ocean is also the shallowest ocean on average. Important marginal seas include the Barents, Beaufort, Chukchi, Kara, Laptev, and East Siberian seas. Several major rivers, including the Ob, Yenisei, Lena, and Mackenzie, discharge into its drainage basin.

Its boundaries and the number of recognized oceans have varied by geographic convention. The International Hydrographic Organization and many modern atlases recognize five oceans, including the Southern Ocean around Antarctica.