Polar Bear: Facts, Size, Habitat, Conservation Status

When you picture a polar bear, you probably imagine a majestic white giant roaming the Arctic ice, but the data reveals a story far more surprising than any myth. The world’s top land carnivore, tipping the scales at over 800 kilograms, has its entire future staked on a shrinking platform of sea ice.

Scientific name: Ursus maritimus · Average male weight: 350–700 kg (770–1,540 lb) · Maximum weight: 800 kg (1,760 lb) · Estimated global population: 22,000–31,000 individuals · Primary habitat: Arctic sea ice · Top speed on land: 40 km/h (25 mph)

This table compiles the core measurements and classifications for the polar bear.

What are 5 facts about polar bears?

What is a polar bear famous for?

• Polar bears are widely recognized as the largest living species of bear and the largest terrestrial carnivore by body mass, according to the National Wildlife Federation (wildlife conservation group).
• They are classified as marine mammals because they depend on sea ice for hunting, resting, and breeding (The Marine Mammal Center).
• The species name Ursus maritimus means “maritime bear.”

What is the scientific name of a polar bear?

The scientific name is Ursus maritimus, first described by Constantine Phipps in 1774. The name reflects the animal’s strong association with the sea.

Why are polar bears white?

• Their fur appears white but is actually translucent; each hair shaft is hollow and scatters visible light, creating a white appearance (National Wildlife Federation).
• Underneath the fur, polar bear skin is black, which helps absorb solar radiation.
• A thick layer of blubber—up to 11 cm (4.3 in) thick—provides insulation.

How big are polar bears?

• Adult males weigh 350–700 kg (770–1,540 lb), while females are smaller at 150–250 kg (330–550 lb) (San Diego Zoo Global fact sheet (zoological reference)).
• Very large males can reach up to 800 kg (1,760 lb) (same fact sheet).
• By comparison, a large grizzly bear typically weighs 180–360 kg—polar bears can be more than double that.
• Body length: 2.0–2.5 m (6.6–8.2 ft); shoulder height up to 1.7 m (5.6 ft).
• The largest polar bear on record, reportedly weighing 1,002 kg (2,209 lb) was shot at Kotzebue Sound, Alaska, in 1960, though such extremes are highly unusual (Wikipedia (general reference)).

How fast can polar bears run?

• Polar bears can reach speeds of 40 km/h (25 mph) on land over short distances (Polar Bears International (Arctic research organization)).
• They are also strong swimmers, capable of sustained swimming at 10 km/h (6 mph).

The takeaway: polar bear biology is finely tuned to the Arctic, but their specialization leaves little room for environmental change.

How many polar bears are left?

Are polar bears endangered?

• Polar bears are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List (IUCN Red List (global conservation authority)).
• In the United States, they are classified as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act since 2008.

How many polar bears are left in the wild?

• The best current estimate is 22,000–31,000 polar bears across 19 subpopulations (WWF (global conservation organization)).
• Some subpopulations are stable; others are declining due to sea ice loss.

What is the IUCN status of polar bears?

• IUCN status: Vulnerable, last assessed in 2015. The assessment notes that the global population decline is projected to continue if sea ice habitat continues to shrink.
• Main threat: climate change reducing the extent and duration of Arctic sea ice (WWF (global conservation organization)).

The pattern: where sea ice declines, polar bear body condition and cub survival decline. The best science suggests that without substantial climate action, the global population could drop by 30% by mid-century.

Are there polar bears in Russia?

Where do polar bears live?

• Polar bears inhabit the Arctic regions of Canada, Alaska (USA), Greenland (Denmark), Norway (Svalbard), and Russia (The Marine Mammal Center).
• They are found on sea ice year-round, with some populations moving to coastal areas during ice-free seasons.

What countries have polar bears?

• Five nations are home to polar bears: Canada, the United States (Alaska), Denmark (Greenland), Norway, and Russia.
• Russia contains several subpopulations, including the Barents Sea and Chukchi Sea groups.

Are there polar bears in Norway?

• Yes, the Svalbard archipelago in Norway has a significant polar bear population (about 3,000 bears) (Norwegian Polar Institute (government research body)).

The Arctic is a shared ecosystem, and international cooperation is essential for the species’ survival.

Are polar bears aggressive?

Which bear is most aggressive?

• Polar bears are considered the most dangerous bear species to humans in the Arctic, especially when food-stressed (Alaska Department of Fish and Game (state wildlife agency)).
• Unlike grizzlies, polar bears are less likely to bluff-charge and more likely to stalk humans as prey.

What is the 3 bear rule?

• The “3 bear rule” is a widely taught safety guideline: if you encounter a bear, stop, assess the situation, and do not run. If attacked, use bear spray (National Park Service (U.S. federal agency)).
• For polar bears specifically, avoid camping near seal breathing holes or food sources.

Are polar bears dangerous to humans?

• Fatal attacks are rare but documented. From 1870 to 2014, there were 73 recorded attacks on humans by polar bears, with 20 fatalities (Journal of Wildlife Management (peer-reviewed study)).
• Attacks are more likely when sea ice retreats and bears spend more time on land searching for food.

The catch: as the Arctic warms, human-polar bear encounters are expected to increase. In Churchill, Manitoba, the “polar bear capital of the world,” residents already follow strict safety protocols.

What eats a polar bear?

What are the natural predators of polar bears?

• Polar bears are apex predators and have no natural enemies other than humans (The Marine Mammal Center).
• Occasionally, killer whales (orcas) have been observed taking polar bears swimming in open water (Audubon (conservation journalism)).

Do killer whales eat polar bears?

• Yes, documented cases exist, though it appears very rare. As sea ice declines, more open water may increase such encounters.

How do polar bears hunt?

• Polar bears primarily hunt ringed and bearded seals, ambushing them at breathing holes or breaking through lairs (The Marine Mammal Center).
• They also scavenge on whale carcasses, walrus, and occasionally birds and eggs.

The ultimate threat to the polar bear is a warming planet that dismantles its hunting grounds.

Two species, one stark contrast: while the grizzly bear can forage across forests and tundra, the polar bear is specialized for ice—and that specialization is now its greatest vulnerability.

Polar Bear vs. Grizzly Bear: A size and strength comparison

Timeline signal: key milestones in polar bear conservation

• 1973 – International Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears signed by five range states (Canada, Denmark, Norway, USA, USSR) (WWF).
• 2008 – Polar bear listed as threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act due to sea ice loss (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (federal agency)).
• 2015 – IUCN Red List updates status to Vulnerable, noting projected population decline (IUCN).
• 2020 – Researchers estimate 22,000–31,000 polar bears remain; some subpopulations show declines (IUCN).

What this means: every decade brings tighter language in conservation assessments, yet the core driver—greenhouse gas emissions—remains largely unaddressed at scale.

The uncertainties in polar bear research highlight the pressing need for continued monitoring and climate action.

Expert perspectives

“The loss of sea ice is literally starving polar bears. If we don’t curb greenhouse gas emissions, the long-term outlook for polar bears is grim.”

Dr. Steven Amstrup, chief scientist at Polar Bears International (Arctic research organization)

“Polar bears are incredibly well-adapted to the cold, but their specialization for sea ice makes them extremely vulnerable to a warming climate.”

WWF polar bear expert (global conservation organization)

“Male polar bears can be two to three times larger than females, a degree of sexual dimorphism that’s rare among land mammals.”

Alaska Department of Fish and Game (state wildlife agency)

The consensus among experts is clear: the fate of polar bears is tied directly to the future of Arctic sea ice.

For Arctic communities and conservationists alike, the choice is stark: either global emissions drop fast enough to preserve summer sea ice, or polar bears face a habitat collapse they cannot outrun. The fate of Ursus maritimus is, in many ways, a barometer for the planet’s climate future.

Frequently asked questions

The polar bear’s future hinges on global climate policy, making it an icon of the challenges posed by a changing world.