All Fermi answers
Fermi #40 · Question 3

How many tourists travelled to Antarctica in the 2025-26 season?

Explore the official answer and the simple reasoning behind this Fermi estimate.

3QUESTION 3 OF 3

Answer & explanation

The official answer, with Fermi’s reasoning step by step.

Answer & explanation

Official answer

113,518

tourists

How to estimate it

Fermi’s official “Napkin math”

Nearly everyone who goes gets there by ship. How many expedition ships work the season, and how big are they? Maybe 50 ships holding about 200 passengers each. In a five month season one ship can turn around a dozen times.

Expedition ships
~50
Passengers per ship
× 200
Trips per season
× 12
50 × 200 × 12
≈ 120,000

Rounded assumptions may give a slightly different estimate. The official answer above is the game’s reference value.

Source calculation & reference
Landed visitors (IAATO, 2025-26)
85,195
Cruise only, no landing
+ 27,217
Deep field
+ 1,106
≈
113,518

Reference cited by Fermi: IAATO Antarctic tourism statistics, 2025-26 season

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