What Is the Smallest Island in the World?
It’s hard to pinpoint just how many islands there are in the world. When you consider we have the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Indian Ocean, as well as countless other bodies of water yet to be explored, it’s easy to see why it can be hard to record every single island.
That said, recent research puts the number of islands in the world at over 900,000, with just 16,000 inhabited by people. With only 11% of the world’s population living on islands it’s safe to say there are a lot of islands still to be properly surveyed. Areas around Papa New Guinea, the Caribbean Sea, and off the coast of South America contain many undiscovered islands. But when it comes to the smallest island in the world that people live on, that is one thing we definitely know.
What Is an Island?
Before we delve into the smallest islands in the world, it’s best to give a clear definition of what an island actually is. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, an island is “a tract of land surrounded by water and smaller than a continent.” Pretty self-explanatory really, but it is interesting to note that continents aren’t considered islands. The reason is that a continent is a massive landmass that sits on a continental plate, while an island is a landmass that belongs to a continental plate without actually sitting on it and is much smaller.
As previously stated, there are thousands of undiscovered islands in the world which makes it hard to calculate the exact number. This means defining the smallest island in the world is tough, but through scientific research and mapping of the world’s oceans, we do know what the smallest islands that have been found so far are and whether they are inhabited or not. This article focuses on those tiny islands that people live on or can be visited and explored.
Just Room Enough Island, New York
Guinness World Records once listed Bishop Rock as the smallest island in the world. The lighthouse off the English Isles of Scilly was automated in 1982, meaning it no longer reached the requirements of being an inhabited island. The new crown for the smallest island in the world goes to Just Room Enough Island. This tiny stretch of land is located in the Thousand Islands – officially made up of 1,864 islands – an area of islands dotted along the Saint Lawrence River close to the town of Alexandria, Jefferson County, New York.
In the 1950s, the Sizeland family purchased the United States island and decided to build a house on it, despite there being barely enough room to park a car. According to Condé Nest Traveler, the island covers roughly 3,300 square feet (about the size of a tennis court), making it a touch smaller than Bishop Rock.
The Sizelands wanted to use the home as a holiday house, but due to its size, it quickly became a tourist attraction. While you can’t actually step foot on the island – as it is private property – many people view Just Room Enough Island from the shore while others take boats out and circle the island, marveling at the fact that there is an actual home on the small landmass.
10 Other Small Islands From Across the Globe
Just Room Enough Island might be the smallest island in the world, but it’s not the only tiny piece of land inhabited by humans. There are many more mini-islands dotted around the globe where people reside that have become major tourist attractions for travelers. While there are too many to list here, we have collected ten of the most well-known that are worth checking out if you are keen to explore island life.
1. Little St. Simons Island, Georgia
Virtually untouched by man, Little St. Simons Island is a thing of beauty. The private 11,000-acre island is just off the coast of Georgia and has seven miles of pristine beaches, 3,000 acres of upland, and 8,000 acres of salt marshes for exploration and relaxation. It has a large number of wildlife that live on the island and just six cabins for hire for those who wish to visit.
Around 25 staff live and work on the island throughout the year, with visitors able to take part in guided walking tours, go birdwatching, hiking, and fishing, enjoy various water sports, or just sit back, relax, and take it all in. Little St. Simons Island is a beautiful retreat where nature and conservation go hand in hand.
2. Benguerra Island, Mozambique
Measuring just six miles by three and a half miles, Benguerra Island might be small but is in fact the second largest island in the Bazaruto Archipelago. This shows just how small some islands really are. With a population of around 1,000 people, Benguerra Island is known for its white sandy beaches, diverse ecosystem that contains forest, savannah, freshwater lakes, and wetland areas, and around 140 different species of birds.
Given National Park status in 1971, the island is aimed at travelers with a little bit of money, with the luxury hotels and resorts on offer not exactly cheap. That said, you get what you pay for, which is an incredible experience on one of the world’s smallest islands.
3. Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands
A National Nature Reserve since 2017, Sea Lion Island is the largest landmass of the Sea Lion Island Group of the Falkland Islands. Once used as a sheep farm, the island is now owned by the Falkland Islands Development Corporation which has invested in the ecosystem of the island, helping keep the flora, fauna, and animal life on the island thriving.
There are some 56 flowering plants that have been recorded on the island, including the Fuegian violet that is found nowhere else on earth, while the island has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area. As the name of the island suggests, it has a large sea lion population along with a diverse cross-secstion of elephant seals, orcas, and five species of penguins.
There’s only a handful of permanent residents who look after the island and the small cabins that are available to rent. But be warned, it takes three flights to get to Sea Lion Island, but the trip is worth it.
4. Dangar Island, Australia
Australia is a massive island itself, but it is also surrounded by thousands of smaller areas, including Dangar Island. Almost completely covered in trees, this tiny island was home to the local Guringai Aborigines for thousands of years before the white man brought smallpox to the island, killing more than half the population.
Just a touch over 300 people live on the island today. It has no main roads and takes about five minutes to walk across. Officially recognized as a National Park, there isn’t much to do on Dangar Island besides walk through the thick vegetation or visit the one cafe for some lunch. There’s also a bowls club open to the public on the weekend that serves both food and alcohol and is the main tourist attraction.
5. Saba, Netherlands Antilles
Measuring five square miles, Saba is a volcanic island in the Carrabien owned by the Netherlands. The population of less than 2,000 has been there for centuries, with people who have the family names Hassell, Johnson, and Every making up 30% of those living on the island.
Unlike other islands on this list, Saba doesn’t have spectacular beaches, but it doesn’t have dense rainforests and the active volcano Mount Scenery, which is the highest point in the entire Kingdom of the Netherlands, reaching 2,910 feet at its highest point. Tourism is the island’s main money maker, with around 15,000 people visiting every year to trek the volcano and scuba dive in the crystal clear waters.
6. Isla Mujeres, Mexico
Situated just eight miles across the Bahia de Mujeres (Bay of Women) from Cancun, this island is a wonderful place to relax and work on your tan. Isla Mujeres is just five miles long and half a mile wide and is a world away from the party-fueled nightlife of Cancun. A former fishing village, the island is now home to several resorts and has a bustling town center where tourists mix with friendly locals.
Easy to access and navigate (you can pretty much walk everywhere), Isla Mujeres has many different experiences on offer, from water sports to the turtle farm, there is much to do on the island. If walking isn’t your thing, grab a bicycle, moped, or golf cart and tour the island that way while checking out the sites.
7. Fox Island, Alaska
At just 3.4 miles long and two miles wide, Fox Island is super tiny. Just an hour by boat off the coast of Seward, Fox Island is a high point of Alaska’s famed Resurrection Bay. Best known for its iconic peaks that can be hiked, the island offers plenty of other activities for outdoor lovers, including kayaking, birdwatching, salmon fishing, and wildlife watching.
There are two resorts on the island and camping is also an option. Fox Island also has not one but two state parks – Sandspit Point State Marine Park, and Sunny Cove State Marine Park. It’s best visited during the summer months.
8. Caye Caulker, Belize
Another Caribbean island, Caye Caulker is a limestone coral island measuring roughly five miles in length and one mile in width. With a population of just 2,000, the island has become somewhat of a tourist destination in recent years, with some 50 accommodation options available.
Caye Caulker has the Western Hemisphere’s largest barrier reef where you can go scuba diving and snorkeling. It also has a diverse culture with many creatives making a name for themselves on the island. Caye Caulker is known locally for its painters, artists, and musicians, who are helping grow the island’s culture and raise its profile as a must-visit destination for those who like to get off the beaten track.
9. Corvo Island, Azores
A short boat ride from mainland Portugal, Corvo Island, which means Island of the Crow, is the smallest of the Azores archipelago. There is a rugged beauty to the island, with its massive 500-foot crater a major attraction for travelers to explore. Mostly dotted with hills and mountains, Corvo Island is great for hiking along with scuba diving and fishing.
The population of Corvo Island is around 300, with dairy production and tourism the two big economic booms keeping the island afloat.
10. South Bass Island, Ohio
Only accessible by ferry, South Bass Island is found on Lake Erie near Ohio, Canada. Nicknamed the “Key West of Lake Erie,” it is a haven for outdoor activities, including boating, fishing, and camping. It hosts the annual Inter-Lake Yachting Association regatta, known as Bay Week, and has a decent nightlife despite a population of only 400 people.
Also known as Put-In-Bay, the island is also home to Put-in-Bay Brewery and Heineman’s winery, which dates back to 1888. For such a small landmass and population, there is a lot to do on Sout Bass Island.
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