Where are the Least Populated Places on Earth?

Summary

Who Smarted? – “Where are the Least Populated Places on Earth?”

Date: February 25, 2026
Host: Trusty Narrator
Guest: Andy the Anthropologist

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Episode Overview

This episode of “Who Smarted?” dives into a fun exploration of the least populated places on Earth. With a blend of humor, interactive trivia, and fascinating storytelling, the Trusty Narrator and Andy the Anthropologist uncover what makes certain locations so sparsely peopled. Themes of remoteness, harsh climates, unique functions, and shifting economies illustrate a surprising variety in the world’s most lonely spots. The episode is packed with “wow” facts, snappy banter, and even a heartwarming story about a real one-person town.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Setting the Scene: Overcrowded vs. Remote

• [00:00–01:51]
  • Opens on a packed city bus, drawing a comic contrast to uninhabited, remote places.
  • Trusty Narrator: “Sometimes I wish I could just go somewhere in the middle of nowhere, you know, with no people. Or at least, like, very few people.”
  • Andy introduces himself as an anthropologist and offers to answer questions about the world’s least populated places.

2. Pitcairn Islands: A Tale of Extreme Remoteness

• [02:31–04:51]
  • Andy: “I’d say it doesn’t get any more remote than the Pitcairn Islands.”
  • Only 47 residents—descendants of the HMS Bounty mutineers and Polynesians from Tahiti.
  • Only one of the four islands (Pitcairn) is inhabited.
  • Notable Quote:
    • Trusty Narrator: “There were more people on the bus.” [03:57]

3. Greenland: When Size Hides Sparsity

• [05:25–07:23]
  • Greenland is vast (over 830,000 sq miles) yet has just 57,000 people.
  • Key concept: Population Density
    • Andy: “In Greenland, there’s only 0.36 people per square mile.” [06:44]
  • 80% of Greenland is covered by permanent ice, so residents live only on tiny areas of the coast.

4. Other Reasons for Low Population: Special Purpose Places

• [07:58–09:35]
  • Vatican City introduced as a place with a tiny population due to its specific function.
  • Only 764 residents: clergy, church workers, and their families.
  • Surprising Fact: The Vatican pharmacy is the busiest in the world with 2,000 visitors a day.
    • Quote: “Twice the population of the country are walking in to buy breath mints and cough syrup every day.” – Andy [09:35]

5. Chilling Out: The World’s Coldest Town

• [10:10–10:46]
  • Oymyakhen, Russia: Home to just 500 residents, known as the coldest inhabited town on Earth (–58°F in winter).

6. One-Woman Town: Monowi, Nebraska

• [13:42–14:51]
  • The town of Monowi has just ONE resident, 90-year-old Elsie Ehler.
  • Used to house 150 people; economic migration caused the population to dwindle.
  • Elsie is mayor, librarian, and tavern owner. No sign of loneliness—she welcomes visitors from all over.
    • Quote: “As the only resident, she’s the mayor, she runs the library, and she runs the town’s only tavern.” – Andy [14:34]

7. Wrap-up: The Pros and Cons of Solitude

• [15:18–15:26]
  • Narrator reflects on the fantasy vs. reality of living somewhere completely empty, noting potential loneliness.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I'm more than just a random armpit. I'm Andy, the anthropologist. Studying people, places and societies is what I do.”
  – Andy the Anthropologist [01:27]

• “Pitcairn island... only has 47 people. There were more people on the bus.”
  – Trusty Narrator [03:57]

• “Greenland is over 830,000 square miles large... but 80% of the island is covered by a permanent ice sheet.”
  – Andy [07:23]

• “Population density is the number of people living in a place relative to its size.”
  – Andy [06:44]

• “The Vatican Pharmacy was founded in 1874 and receives 2,000 visitors per day.”
  – Trusty Narrator [09:11]

• “Would you want to live in the coldest town on Earth?... Oymyakhen, Russia, which is consistently the coldest inhabited place on the planet.”
  – Andy [10:14]

• “The town in question is Monowi, Nebraska, here in the United States. And the only resident is a 90 year old lady named Elsie Ehler.”
  – Andy [13:47]

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:00–01:51 – Crowded city vs. the fantasy of solitude
• 03:00–04:51 – The remote Pitcairn Islands and their unusual history
• 05:25–07:23 – Greenland’s ice and population density explained
• 07:58–09:35 – Vatican City’s tiny population and unique pharmacy fact
• 10:10–10:46 – Oymyakhen: The coldest inhabited place
• 13:42–14:51 – One-person town: Monowi, Nebraska
• 15:18–15:26 – Reflections on living with (or without) people

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Episode Takeaways

• Locations with few people often share traits: remoteness, harsh climate, or unique purpose.
• Even in the most unexpected places, there are unique reasons for a small population—history, geography, economy, and even a single person’s resilience.
• Humorous touches and interactive questions keep kids engaged while learning real-world geography and history.

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Final Thoughts

This episode of "Who Smarted?" uses humor, clever storytelling, and accessible explanations to make geography and anthropology come alive. Kids (and adults) are encouraged to ask questions and reconsider their own “fantasies” about lonely places. The episode demonstrates that behind every number and statistic, there are stories, surprising facts, and sometimes, a single remarkable person.

Transcript

[Trusty Narrator]

And now it's time for who Smarted? Oops. Pardon me. Sorry. Excuse me. Could you scooch over a tad? Your armpit is kind of right near my face. Now it's in my face.

[Andy the Anthropologist]

Sorry, pal. Psst.

[Trusty Narrator]

Hey, smarty pants. In case you were wondering, I'm on a crowded bus. A very crowded bus. Like, super crazy crowded. I can barely breathe in here.

[Andy the Anthropologist]

You don't exactly smell like roses either, my friend.

[Trusty Narrator]

No, no, no, I didn't mean you. I just mean Mind. I gotta say, sometimes life in the big city gets you. Sometimes I wish I could just go somewhere in the middle of nowhere, you know, with no people. Or at least, like, very few people.

[Andy the Anthropologist]

Yeah, I'm right there with you, pal.

[Trusty Narrator]

No, no, I'm saying I don't want you there, or anyone. I want to be alone. No offense.

[Andy the Anthropologist]

None taken. And I'm agreeing with you. We're all packed like sardines in here. Makes me kind of wish I was in Greenland.

[Trusty Narrator]

Greenland?

[Andy the Anthropologist]

Or maybe one of those tiny islands in the South Pacific, you know, somewhere with a teeny tiny population. Somewhere where no one's face would smash into my armpit every time the bus stops.

[Trusty Narrator]

Sorry. Yeah, a place with way fewer people sounds great right about now. Come to think of it, what is the least populated place on Earth anyway? And how come so few people live there? And was it always like that?

[Andy the Anthropologist]

Those are great questions. And lucky for you, I. I've got all the answers, pal.

[Trusty Narrator]

You do, armpit guy?

[Andy the Anthropologist]

Absolutely. I'm more than just a random armpit. I'm Andy, the anthropologist. Studying people, places and societies is what I do. Wow.

[Trusty Narrator]

You just never know who you're going to meet on a crowded city bus. Okay, smarty pants, let's learn more about the least populated places on the planet. Of course, I do think we should get off the bus first. Right now, it seems like the most populated place on the planet.

[Andy the Anthropologist]

I second that. Can you reach the button to get off at the next stop?

[Trusty Narrator]

I think so. It's just past your armpit. Hang on, smarty pants. It's time for another whiff of science and history on who smarted?

[Theme Song Singer]

Who's smarted? Who's smart? Is it you? Is it me? Is it science or history? Listen up, everyone. We make smarting laughs lots of fun. Who's smart and.

[Trusty Narrator]

Ah, that's better. Say, where'd we get off, Andy? Seems like we're somehow in the middle of nowhere.

[Andy the Anthropologist]

I wish. We're just on the outskirts of town.

[Trusty Narrator]

Well, then where is the middle of nowhere? I bet they have a tiny population.

[Andy the Anthropologist]

Hmm. Middle of nowhere. Middle of the nowhere. Well, I suppose the more anthropological way to say that would be the most remote place. And I'd say it doesn't get any more remote than the Pitcairn Islands.

[Trusty Narrator]

The Pitcairn Islands, huh?

[Andy the Anthropologist]

Yep. They're a group of four islands in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean, and they've got a pretty tiny population.

[Trusty Narrator]

Whoa, really? Hey, smarty pants, what do you think is the population of the Pitcairn islands? Is it A, 1,000 people, B, 325 people, or C 47 people?

[Andy the Anthropologist]

If you said 47, you're right.

[Trusty Narrator]

Yikes. Just 47 people in the whole country. That's crazy.

[Andy the Anthropologist]

Well, they're not exactly a country. They're British overseas territory. But they are one of the most remote regions in the world, putting them, as you say, in the middle of nowhere. In fact, the islands themselves are really far from each other.

[Trusty Narrator]

They?

[Andy the Anthropologist]

There are four islands. Pitcairn Island, Henderson Island, Dussie island, and Awino Island. They're scattered over several hundred miles of ocean, and only one of them, Pitcairn island, is actually inhabited.

[Trusty Narrator]

Inhabited, meaning people live there?

[Andy the Anthropologist]

Exactly. As opposed to uninhabited, which means nobody lives there permanently. Of course, the inhabited island only has 47 people. There were more people on the bus.

[Trusty Narrator]

Yeah, don't remind me. So how does that happen, Andy?

[Andy the Anthropologist]

Well, most of the population are all descendants from one single sea voyage.

[Trusty Narrator]

Wait, as in they descended from the crew of one single ship?

[Andy the Anthropologist]

Yep. Back in 1789, there was a ship that sailed all the way from England called the HMS Bounty. But somewhere along the journey, the ship's crew mutinied or revolted against the ship's captain, kicking him and 18 others off the boat. They then sailed to Pitcairn island, along with a few Polynesians they picked up in nearby Tahiti. And pretty much everyone who lives on the island today is a descendant from that one group of Brits and Polynesians.

[Trusty Narrator]

Wow, what a crazy story. So the island was probably mostly uninhabited when they got there.

[Andy the Anthropologist]

For the most part. Over the centuries, the population of the Pitcairn Islands fluctuated slightly, but it's always small. In the mid-1800s, 193 people lived on the island, but some moved away to nearby islands and never came back.

[Trusty Narrator]

Hmm. On the one hand, it sounds nice not having to share space with too many people. On the other hand, living on a super remote island in the middle of the ocean sounds a little lonely. Do they even have a pizzeria what other low population places do you know of, Andy?

[Andy the Anthropologist]

Well, here's an example of a place that's actually gigantic, but has a super small population. I'll give you a hint. It's a huge island and its climate is pretty cold most of the year.

[Trusty Narrator]

What do you think, smartypants? Do you know the place Andy the anthropologist is talking about? Shout out your answers. Uh huh, uh huh. I'm hearing lots of answers. So what is it?

[Andy the Anthropologist]

If you said Greenland, great job. Greenland has a population of 57,000 people.

[Trusty Narrator]

Wait, 57,000 people? That's a pretty big jump from the 47 people living on the Pitcairn Islands. I'm sure there's places with less than 57,000 people. What kind of anthropologist are you anyways? Let me see your degree.

[Andy the Anthropologist]

Hang on, trusty. Let me explain. Greenland is over 830,000 square miles large. It's about one quarter of the size of the United States, three times the size of Texas, and five times the size of California. And while 57,000 people may seem like a big number thanks to population density, it's actually not much at all.

[Trusty Narrator]

Ah, I see. For a place that big to have less people living there than the amount of fans who attend a professional football game or a Taylor Swift concert, that's pretty crazy. Oh, and what is population density exactly?

[Andy the Anthropologist]

Population density is the number of people living in a place relative to its size. In Greenland, there's only 0.36 people per square mile.

[Trusty Narrator]

Wait, that's less than one person. That's less than half a person.

[Andy the Anthropologist]

Yep. When you spread 57,000 people out over Greenland's 830,000 square miles, that means huge parts of the island have nobody living on them. In fact, Greenland is the least densely populated region in the world.

[Trusty Narrator]

Gotcha. I gotta say, that doesn't sound too bad, but why do so few people want to live there? It looks so pretty. And the name Green Land sounds so fun and enticing.

[Andy the Anthropologist]

Well, it is pretty, but it's very, very, very cold. In fact, most of the island is frozen solid. If you look at a map of Greenland, you'll see 80% of the island is covered by a permanent ice sheet. That means that its population of 57,000 live in just a few small communities along the shoreline.

[Trusty Narrator]

I see. Talk about an ironic name. Okay, so Pitcairn island is sparsely populated because it's so remote. And Greenland is sparsely populated because so much of it is unlivable. Are those the only reasons why a place has a tiny population? What do you think, smarty pants?

[Andy the Anthropologist]

The answer is no. Remoteness and harsh conditions aren't the only reasons a place might have a tiny population. Occasionally, a small population can be explained by a place having a very specific function or economy.

[Trusty Narrator]

Ooh, like a ghost town that's only inhabited by ghosts who use ghost money to buy ghost pizza?

[Andy the Anthropologist]

Um, no. Such a place does not exist.

[Trusty Narrator]

It was worth a shot. So what kind of place is Andy talking about? Here's a clue to one.

[Andy the Anthropologist]

If you guessed the Vatican City, you're right. While not actually a city, Vatican City is a tiny sovereign country located within Italy. It's one of the world's smallest. In fact, with a population of just 764, that is tiny.

[Trusty Narrator]

But what exactly did you mean when you said it has a specific function or economy?

[Andy the Anthropologist]

Well, the Vatican City is where the Pope lives. He serves not only as the head of the Catholic Church, but but also as head of the state. And every one of the 764 residents of the Vatican either work for the Catholic Church, the state, or they're family members of someone who does.

[Trusty Narrator]

Gotcha, smarty pins. True or false? Even though the Vatican is tiny, less than a quarter of a mile or half of a kilometer, it has the busiest pharmacy in the world. If you said true, you're right. The Vatican Pharmacy was founded in 1874 and receives 2,000 visitors per day.

[Andy the Anthropologist]

Wow. How did you know that?

[Trusty Narrator]

Trusty narrators know stuff too, pal.

[Andy the Anthropologist]

Nice. It's also fascinating to think over twice the population of the country are walking in to buy breath mints and cough syrup every day.

[Trusty Narrator]

Good point, Andy. The reason this pharmacy is so busy is because it's famous for having medicines that are hard or even impossible to find elsewhere in Italy. And in true Vatican style, that of the pharmacy is a monk. Okay, moving on. As we've learned, there are many different types of regions and even countries with a low population. And there's always a reason for it. Now, I want to know, what is the craziest one you've got?

[Andy the Anthropologist]

Well, let me ask you this. Would you want to live in the coldest town on Earth?

[Trusty Narrator]

Nope, I absolutely would not. Andy.

[Andy the Anthropologist]

I think most people would agree with you, trustee. Except, of course, the 500 or so that do live there. There being Oymyakhen, Russia, which is consistently the coldest inhabited place on the planet. It's deep in Eastern Siberia and the average Winter temperature is -50 Celsius or -58 Fahrenheit.

[Trusty Narrator]

-58. How do people survive?

[Andy the Anthropologist]

Lots and lots of fur and staying indoors as much as possible. But guess what?

[Trusty Narrator]

What?

[Andy the Anthropologist]

That's not the craziest one. What? I know of a place that has such a tiny population that if the two of us went there, it would triple the population.

[Trusty Narrator]

Triple the population? How could two people triple the population? Wait, are you saying what I think you're saying?

[Andy the Anthropologist]

I think so.

[Trusty Narrator]

Oh boy, Smartypants, have you figured out how that's possible? I'll give you a moment to think about it while we take a short break for a word from our sponsors. Hey, smarty friends, Trusty here. Are you looking for another kids and family podcast that combines humor with learning in a way that captivates? Then check out welcome to Hope Springs. It is the newest audio drama from the Augustin Institute, the award winning team behind the Adventures of Nick and Sam and the Trials of St Patrick. Set in the fictional mountain town of Hope Springs, the story follows a close group of friends who spend their days at the old depot, a newly restored train station, until an innocent prank sparks a mystery that stretches across the entire town. Created by award winning writer Paul McCusker, it's packed with humor, adventure, and really thoughtful moments of friendship, courage and faith. It's the kind of show that sparks imagination without screens, and it's perfect for listening together in the car or at home. Don't miss out. Follow welcome to Hope Springs on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you're listening now. As the trusty narrator, I've taken the smarty pants on countless adventures. I'll do anything for the fans, but off mic, I prefer to keep my adventures in the safe space of my own backyard. However, even a homebody like me can't avoid the unexpected chaos that comes with family life. Take last week, for example. My niece was staying with me when she came down with a nasty cold in the middle of the night. I couldn't leave her alone to get medicine. And that's when I remembered Doordash is there for you. Whatever you need, whenever you need it. With a few taps on my phone, I had cough syrup and tissues delivered right to my door. DoorDash saved the night and my niece was back to her energetic self in no time. Oh, and did I order a little ice cream for myself. Yes, I did. And Doordash brought it right to my door. So while I may not be the biggest fan of real life adventures, I'm grateful that Doordash is always there to help me navigate life's little emergencies. When life happens, get a little order delivered with DoorDash order now, now Back to who smarted. Okay, smartypants, Anthropologist Andy says there's a place with a population so small that if the two of us moved there, we'd triple the population. Which means the current population there is how many? If you said one, you're right. Wait, wait. Are you saying there's a place that has a population of only one person?

[Andy the Anthropologist]

I sure am.

[Trusty Narrator]

Oh, wow. That must be the loneliest person in the whole world.

[Andy the Anthropologist]

Nah, I wouldn't worry about that. Not to mention, being the only person in town keeps you surprisingly busy. The town in question is Monowai, Nebraska, here in the United States. And the only resident is a 90 year old lady named Elsie Ehler.

[Trusty Narrator]

Whoa, Whoa. That's right. One person in an entire town and it's a 90 year old lady. How could that be? Andy, Anthropologist.

[Andy the Anthropologist]

Well, you see, in the 1930s, Monowi had a population of about 150. But those people moved on to bigger towns and cities where there was more work and more opportunities. Over the years, the population continued to dwindle down until it was just Elsie and her husband. And after he died in 2004, she officially became the only resident.

[Trusty Narrator]

And you're telling me she's not lonely?

[Andy the Anthropologist]

It doesn't seem that way. As the only resident, she's the mayor, she runs the library, and she runs the town's only tavern where she works six days a week. She's become so famous, people drive over from all around the region to visit the Monowi Tavern and have a break, burger and chat with Elsie.

[Trusty Narrator]

Oh, good. It sounds like she's not lonely at all. Hey, look, it's our bus back. Come on. Excuse me. Pardon me. You know, Andy, even though I was complaining before about living in a city and being on an overcrowded bus surrounded by lots of people, I wonder if I could actually live in a sparsely populated or tiny little place. I'd probably get pretty bored.

[Andy the Anthropologist]

Same here, trusty. Plus, it would get pretty lonely.

[Trusty Narrator]

Well, not for me.

[Andy the Anthropologist]

Oh, I thought you said you would get lonely being mostly by yourself.

[Trusty Narrator]

I would, but then I realized I'm never actually alone because I've got the smarty pants with me and your armpit. Aw. A big shout out to Crosby and Henry, two longtime smarty fans from a longtime smarty family in Fort Ann, New York. Thanks so much for smarting with us since the beginning. We love that you think the topics are always interesting. And we love that you love who's smarted for making learning fun. This episode Least Populated Places was written by Phil Jeremy and voiced by Brad Rader and Jerry Colbert. Technical direction and sound design by Josh Hahn. Our associate producer is Max Kamasky. The theme song is by Brian Suarez with lyrics written and performed by Adam Tex Davis. Who Smarted was created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colber. This has been an Atomic Audio production.