Global Topographic Summary
Steven Dutch, Professor Emeritus, Natural and Applied Sciences, Universityof Wisconsin - Green BayGlobal Topography
Tables on this page were prepared from a database of global averaged 5-minute elevations.
| Range m | 1000 Square Kilometers | % of Surface | Cumulative % |
| 7500-8000 | 0.07 (70 sq. km.) | 0.0% | 100% |
| 7000-7500 | 0.15 (150 sq. km) | 0.0% | 100% |
| 6500-7000 | 0.9 (900 sq. km) | 0.0% | 100% |
| 6000-6500 | 18 | 0.0% | 100% |
| 5500-6000 | 167 | 0.0% | 100% |
| 5000-5500 | 877 | 0.2% | 100.0% |
| 4500-5000 | 899 | 0.2% | 99.8% |
| 4000-4500 | 749 | 0.1% | 99.6% |
| 3500-4000 | 1691 | 0.3% | 99.5% |
| 3000-3500 | 3351 | 0.7% | 99.1% |
| 2500-3000 | 4649 | 0.9% | 98.5% |
| 2000-2500 | 5283 | 1.0% | 97.6% |
| 1500-2000 | 7794 | 1.5% | 96.5% |
| 1000-1500 | 15,726 | 3.1% | 95.0% |
| 500-1000 | 29,530 | 5.8% | 91.9% |
| 0-500 | 80,780 | 15.8% | 86.1% |
| -500-0 | 36,618 | 7.2% | 70.3% |
-1000--500 | 6991 | 1.4% | 63.1% |
-1500--1000 | 6547 | 1.3% | 61.7% |
-2000--1500 | 8457 | 1.7% | 60.5% |
-2500--2000 | 10,669 | 2.1% | 58.8% |
-3000--2500 | 18,573 | 3.6% | 56.7% |
-3500--3000 | 31,148 | 6.1% | 53.1% |
-4000--3500 | 49,100 | 9.6% | 47.0% |
-4500--4000 | 58,839 | 11.5% | 37.3% |
-5000--4500 | 60,337 | 11.8% | 25.8% |
-5500--5000 | 48,471 | 9.5% | 14.0% |
-6000--5500 | 20,405 | 4.0% | 4.5% |
-6500--6000 | 1686 | 0.3% | 0.5% |
-7000--6500 | 338 | 0.1% | 0.1% |
-7500--7000 | 155 | 0.0% | 0.1% |
-8000--7500 | 114 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| -8500--8000 | 50 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| -9000--8500 | 41 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| <-9000 | 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
The table below gives global elevation data for one-kilometer intervals
| From (m) | To (m) | 1000 Square Kilometers | % of Surface | Cumulative % |
| 7000 | 9000 | 1 | 0.00% | 100.00% |
| 6000 | 7000 | 18 | 0.00% | 100.00% |
| 5000 | 6000 | 1045 | 0.20% | 99.99% |
| 4000 | 5000 | 1649 | 0.32% | 99.79% |
| 3000 | 4000 | 5042 | 0.99% | 99.47% |
| 2000 | 3000 | 9932 | 1.95% | 98.48% |
| 1000 | 2000 | 23,520 | 4.61% | 96.53% |
| 0 | 1000 | 110,310 | 21.63% | 91.92% |
| -1000 | 0 | 43,610 | 8.55% | 70.29% |
| -2000 | -1000 | 15,004 | 2.94% | 61.74% |
| -3000 | -2000 | 29,242 | 5.73% | 58.80% |
| -4000 | -3000 | 80,248 | 15.73% | 53.07% |
| -5000 | -4000 | 119,176 | 23.36% | 37.34% |
| -6000 | -5000 | 68,875 | 13.50% | 13.97% |
| -7000 | -6000 | 2,024 | 0.40% | 0.47% |
| -8000 | -7000 | 268 | 0.05% | 0.07% |
| -9000 | -8000 | 91 | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| -11000 | -9000 | 12 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Total | 510,055 |
The median elevation of the earth's surface, the elevation where 50%of the surface is lower and 50% is higher, is about -3300 meters. The meanelevation (average of all elevations) is about -2350 meters.
 | A histogram of global elevation shows a bimodal distribution |
 | A cumulative area graph shows the familiar "two story" pattern of global topography. Both of these diagrams reflect the fact that the earth has two kinds of crust: thick light granitic (continental) crust and thin dense basaltic (oceanic) crust |
The Continents
Data for the continents are tabulated in two ways: the traditional referenceto sea level, and again beginning at -2000 m, the approximate midpoint of thecontinental slope and a good average definition of the boundary betweencontinental and oceanic crust. For both modes, figures are given for elevationinterval and as cumulative percentages.
North America
North America shows perhaps the smoothest elevation distribution of anycontinent. Most other continents show a sharp drop in area above some cutoff,but North American elevations taper off rather smoothly. The smoothness reflectsboth the broad uplift of the Rockies and the Greenland ice cap. Also, North America hasless of its area below 500 meters than all other continents but Asia andAntarctica.
| Range m | Area Sq km | % Above Sea Level | Cum % Above Sea Level | % Above -2000 m | Cum % Above -2000 m |
| 4500-5000 | 0 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 4000-4500 | 121 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 3500-4000 | 7922 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 3000-3500 | 179409 | 0.7% | 100.0% | 0.5% | 100.0% |
| 2500-3000 | 679797 | 2.8% | 99.2% | 1.8% | 99.5% |
| 2000-2500 | 1327915 | 5.4% | 96.5% | 3.5% | 97.7% |
| 1500-2000 | 1958820 | 7.9% | 91.1% | 5.2% | 94.1% |
| 1000-1500 | 2668347 | 10.8% | 83.2% | 7.1% | 88.9% |
| 0500-1000 | 4477614 | 18.2% | 72.3% | 12.0% | 81.8% |
| 0000-0500 | 13358104 | 54.2% | 54.2% | 35.7% | 69.8% |
| Land Below Sea Level | 2450 | ||||
| -0500-0000 | 9096469 | 24.3% | 34.1% | ||
| -1000-0500 | 1316916 | 3.5% | 9.8% | ||
| -1500-1000 | 1030639 | 2.8% | 6.3% | ||
| -2000-1500 | 1327970 | 3.5% | 3.5% | ||
| Total Above Sea Level | 24658049 | ||||
| Total Above -2000 m | 37430044 |
South America
South America is the only continent besides Asia to have significant areaabove 4000 m. However, most of the continent is very low in elevation.
Note both here and in Asia that there is a minimum in areal distribution atintermediate elevations and then an increase at higher elevations. The area from3500 to 4000 meters is greater than that from 3000 to 3500 meters.
| Range m | Area Sq km | % Above Sea Level | Cum % Above Sea Level | % Above -2000 m | Cum % Above -2000 m |
| 5500-6000 | 0 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 5000-5500 | 9800 | 0.1% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 4500-5000 | 134192 | 0.7% | 99.9% | 0.6% | 100.0% |
| 4000-4500 | 287817 | 1.6% | 99.2% | 1.2% | 99.4% |
| 3500-4000 | 366782 | 2.0% | 97.7% | 1.6% | 98.1% |
| 3000-3500 | 175829 | 1.0% | 95.7% | 0.8% | 96.6% |
| 2500-3000 | 211940 | 1.2% | 94.7% | 0.9% | 95.8% |
| 2000-2500 | 231803 | 1.3% | 93.6% | 1.0% | 94.9% |
| 1500-2000 | 342271 | 1.9% | 92.3% | 1.5% | 93.9% |
| 1000-1500 | 690195 | 3.8% | 90.4% | 3.0% | 92.5% |
| 0500-1000 | 2912977 | 15.8% | 86.7% | 12.5% | 89.5% |
| 0000-0500 | 13029965 | 70.8% | 70.8% | 55.9% | 77.0% |
| -0500-0000 | 3175360 | 13.6% | 21.1% | ||
| -1000-0500 | 447271 | 1.9% | 7.5% | ||
| -1500-1000 | 538623 | 2.3% | 5.6% | ||
| -2000-1500 | 763088 | 3.3% | 3.3% | ||
| Total Above Sea Level | 18393571 | ||||
| Total Above -2000 m | 23317913 |
Africa
Although Africa has the nearly 6000-m Kilimanjaro, its only extensivehighlands are the Atlas Mountains, the Ethiopian Highlands, and parts of SouthAfrica. It has an unusually high proportion of its area above 500 meters.
| Range m | Area Sq km | % Above Sea Level | Cum % Above Sea Level | % Above -2000 m | Cum % Above -2000 m |
| 4000-4500 | 0 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 3500-4000 | 713 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 3000-3500 | 10930 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 2500-3000 | 95126 | 0.3% | 100.0% | 0.3% | 100.0% |
| 2000-2500 | 309420 | 1.0% | 99.7% | 0.9% | 99.7% |
| 1500-2000 | 1071650 | 3.4% | 98.7% | 3.0% | 98.8% |
| 1000-1500 | 5746429 | 18.4% | 95.2% | 16.0% | 95.9% |
| 0500-1000 | 9490585 | 30.4% | 76.8% | 26.4% | 79.8% |
| 0000-0500 | 14449526 | 46.4% | 46.4% | 40.3% | 53.4% |
| Land Below Sea Level | 15800 | ||||
| -0500-0000 | 2225924 | 6.2% | 13.1% | ||
| -1000-0500 | 686855 | 1.9% | 6.9% | ||
| -1500-1000 | 682219 | 1.9% | 5.0% | ||
| -2000-1500 | 1124625 | 3.1% | 3.1% | ||
| Total Above Sea Level | 31174380 | ||||
| Total Above -2000 m | 35894004 |
Europe
The small areas above 3000 meters are mostly in the Caucasus. Europe ismostly very flat, second only to Australia.
| Range m | Area Sq km | % Above Sea Level | Cum % Above Sea Level | % Above -2000 m | Cum % Above -2000 m |
| 4000-4500 | 0 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 3500-4000 | 580 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 3000-3500 | 4987 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 2500-3000 | 23781 | 0.2% | 99.9% | 0.1% | 100.0% |
| 2000-2500 | 58957 | 0.5% | 99.7% | 0.3% | 99.8% |
| 1500-2000 | 97648 | 0.9% | 99.2% | 0.5% | 99.5% |
| 1000-1500 | 362480 | 3.3% | 98.3% | 1.9% | 99.0% |
| 0500-1000 | 1180509 | 10.7% | 95.0% | 6.2% | 97.1% |
| 0000-0500 | 9324069 | 84.4% | 84.4% | 49.3% | 90.9% |
| -0500-0000 | 5654283 | 29.9% | 41.5% | ||
| -1000-0500 | 731284 | 3.9% | 11.6% | ||
| -1500-1000 | 721551 | 3.8% | 7.8% | ||
| -2000-1500 | 743966 | 3.9% | 3.9% | ||
| Total Above Sea Level | 11053012 | ||||
| Total Above -2000 m | 18904095 |
Asia
Asia has the largest area above 4000 m of any continent and also the onlysignificant dryland below sea level. In traditionalgeographic terms the Caspian Depression is arbitrarily split between Europe andAsia, but it is here tabulated entirely in Asia.
Note both here and in South America that there is a minimum in arealdistribution at intermediate elevations and then an increase at higherelevations. The area from 4500 to 5000 meters is greater than that from 4000 to4500 meters.
| Range m | Area Sq km | % Above Sea Level | Cum % Above Sea Level | % Above -2000 m | Cum % Above -2000 m |
| 8000-8500 | 0 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 7500-8000 | 72 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 7000-7500 | 151 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 6500-7000 | 918 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 6000-6500 | 17970 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 5500-6000 | 167061 | 0.4% | 100.0% | 0.3% | 100.0% |
| 5000-5500 | 866888 | 2.0% | 99.6% | 1.4% | 99.7% |
| 4500-5000 | 764496 | 1.7% | 97.6% | 1.3% | 98.3% |
| 4000-4500 | 441254 | 1.0% | 95.9% | 0.7% | 97.0% |
| 3500-4000 | 467753 | 1.1% | 94.9% | 0.8% | 96.3% |
| 3000-3500 | 454524 | 1.0% | 93.8% | 0.7% | 95.5% |
| 2500-3000 | 724460 | 1.6% | 92.8% | 1.2% | 94.8% |
| 2000-2500 | 1131975 | 2.6% | 91.2% | 1.9% | 93.6% |
| 1500-2000 | 2509125 | 5.7% | 88.6% | 4.1% | 91.7% |
| 1000-1500 | 4906604 | 11.1% | 82.9% | 8.0% | 87.6% |
| 0500-1000 | 9717519 | 22.0% | 71.8% | 15.9% | 79.6% |
| 0000-0500 | 21967852 | 49.8% | 49.8% | 36.0% | 63.7% |
| Land Below Sea Level | 15800 | ||||
| -0500-0000 | 11628139 | 19.1% | 27.7% | ||
| -1000-0500 | 1618913 | 2.7% | 8.6% | ||
| -1500-1000 | 1725775 | 2.8% | 5.9% | ||
| -2000-1500 | 1901779 | 3.1% | 3.1% | ||
| Total Land | 44138622 | ||||
| Total Above -2000 m | 61013228 |
Australia
The highest elevation in Australia proper is less than 2500 meters. Thehigher areas in this table are in New Guinea, which is geologically an extensionof Australia. Pacific land masses are often lumped together as"Oceania," to include New Zealand. New Zealand is not included here.In plate tectonic terms New Zealand is a separate continent. Australia is thelowest and flattest continent.
| Range | Area Sq km | % Above Sea Level | Cum % Above Sea Level | % Above -2000 m | Cum % Above -2000 m |
| 4000-4500 | 0 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 3500-4000 | 89 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 3000-3500 | 3838 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 2500-3000 | 13113 | 0.2% | 100.0% | 0.1% | 100.0% |
| 2000-2500 | 47524 | 0.5% | 99.8% | 0.3% | 99.9% |
| 1500-2000 | 64232 | 0.7% | 99.3% | 0.5% | 99.5% |
| 1000-1500 | 90221 | 1.0% | 98.5% | 0.6% | 99.1% |
| 0500-1000 | 865923 | 9.9% | 97.5% | 6.1% | 98.5% |
| 0000-0500 | 7641030 | 87.6% | 87.6% | 53.8% | 92.4% |
| Land Below Sea Level | 29500 | ||||
| -0500-0000 | 3349944 | 23.6% | 38.5% | ||
| -1000-0500 | 478725 | 3.4% | 14.9% | ||
| -1500-1000 | 712383 | 5.0% | 11.6% | ||
| -2000-1500 | 929144 | 6.5% | 6.5% | ||
| Total Above Sea Level | 8725971 | ||||
| Total Above -2000 m | 14196166 |
New Zealand
In geologic terms, New Zealand is a continent: a block of continental crustcompletely surrounded by oceanic crust. (So is Madagascar, but it is closeenough to Africa to be counted with Africa.) It consists not just of the twolarge islands, but extensive submerged plateaus like the Chatham and Lord HoweRises. These are thinned and faulted continental crust. Note the large submergedextent compared to the exposed land, the large extent of crust below -1000meters, and the rather uniform distribution of elevations below sea level.
Although the highest elevation in New Zealand is over 3500 meters, at thisresolution no elevations higher than 2000 meters occur. This was confirmed byvisually scanning the data. Most other continents have at least small areasclose to their maximum elevations. This discrepancy probably is connected to theway New Zealand data were averaged and integrated into the global data set.
| Range | Area Sq km | % Above Sea Level | Cum % Above Sea Level | % Above -2000 m | Cum % Above -2000 m |
| 2000-2500 | 0 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 1500-2000 | 390 | 0.1% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 1000-1500 | 9175 | 3.2% | 99.9% | 0.2% | 100.0% |
| 0500-1000 | 69539 | 24.2% | 96.7% | 1.9% | 99.7% |
| 0000-0500 | 207874 | 72.4% | 72.4% | 5.5% | 97.9% |
| -0500-0000 | 665376 | 17.7% | 92.3% | ||
| -1000-0500 | 736140 | 19.6% | 74.6% | ||
| -1500-1000 | 1096700 | 29.2% | 55.0% | ||
| -2000-1500 | 965539 | 25.7% | 25.7% | ||
| Total Above Sea Level | 286978 | ||||
| Total Above -2000 m | 3750733 |
Antarctica
Antarctica's unusual elevation distribution results from its ice cap.
| Range m | Area Sq km | % Above Sea Level | Cum % Above Sea Level | % Above -2000 m | Cum % Above -2000 m |
| 4500-5000 | 0 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| 4000-4500 | 19685 | 0.1% | 100.0% | 0.1% | 100.0% |
| 3500-4000 | 845788 | 6.1% | 99.9% | 4.6% | 99.9% |
| 3000-3500 | 2492743 | 18.0% | 93.7% | 13.7% | 95.2% |
| 2500-3000 | 2738806 | 19.8% | 75.7% | 15.0% | 81.6% |
| 2000-2500 | 1880577 | 13.6% | 55.9% | 10.3% | 66.5% |
| 1500-2000 | 1597603 | 11.5% | 42.3% | 8.8% | 56.2% |
| 1000-1500 | 1235082 | 8.9% | 30.8% | 6.8% | 47.4% |
| 0500-1000 | 1197210 | 8.7% | 21.9% | 6.6% | 40.6% |
| 0000-0500 | 1826332 | 13.2% | 13.2% | 10.0% | 34.0% |
| -0500-0000 | 2186446 | 12.0% | 24.0% | ||
| -1000-0500 | 1469393 | 8.1% | 12.0% | ||
| -1500-1000 | 315431 | 1.7% | 3.9% | ||
| -2000-1500 | 397940 | 2.2% | 2.2% | ||
| Total Above Sea Level | 13833824 | ||||
| Total Above -2000 m | 18203034 |
Ocean Basins
For ocean basins, cumulative area is tabulated beginning at sea level andprogressing downward. Since shallow seas are really covering continental crust,areas are also tabulated with reference to -2000 m, the approximate midpoint ofthe continental slope and approximate boundary of continental and oceanic crust.
North Atlantic
| Range | Area Sq km | % Area | Cum % Area | % Area Below -2000 m | Cum % Area Below -2000 m |
| -0500-0000 | 10108777 | 19.2% | 19.2% | ||
| -1000-0500 | 1858357 | 3.5% | 22.8% | ||
| -1500-1000 | 1706680 | 3.2% | 26.0% | ||
| -2000-1500 | 2049212 | 3.9% | 29.9% | ||
| -2500-2000 | 2376864 | 4.5% | 34.4% | 6.5% | 6.5% |
| -3000-2500 | 3580982 | 6.8% | 41.2% | 9.7% | 16.2% |
| -3500-3000 | 3989812 | 7.6% | 48.8% | 10.8% | 27.0% |
| -4000-3500 | 5275636 | 10.0% | 58.9% | 14.3% | 41.3% |
| -4500-4000 | 5185684 | 9.9% | 68.7% | 14.1% | 55.4% |
| -5000-4500 | 8159521 | 15.5% | 84.3% | 22.2% | 77.6% |
| -5500-5000 | 5605814 | 10.7% | 94.9% | 15.2% | 92.8% |
| -6000-5500 | 2363359 | 4.5% | 99.4% | 6.4% | 99.2% |
| -6500-6000 | 244393 | 0.5% | 99.9% | 0.7% | 99.9% |
| -7000-6500 | 29195 | 0.1% | 100.0% | 0.1% | 99.9% |
| -7500-7000 | 8690 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| -8000-7500 | 16358 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| -8500-8000 | 759 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| -9000-8500 | 0 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| Total Below Sea Level | 52560094 | ||||
| Total Below -2000 m | 36837068 |
South Atlantic
Although the North Atlantic Ocean is a bit larger than the South Atlantic,the deep basin of the South Atlantic is quite a bit larger than the NorthAtlantic, reflecting the wide continental shelves of North America and Europe,the epicontinental seas of the Baltic and Hudson's Bay,and the much narrower shelves of South America and Africa.
| Range | Area Sq km | % Area | Cum % Area | % Area Below -2000 m | Cum % Area Below -2000 m |
| -0500-0000 | 3549440 | 7.5% | 7.5% | ||
| -1000-0500 | 834387 | 1.8% | 9.2% | ||
| -1500-1000 | 503892 | 1.1% | 10.3% | ||
| -2000-1500 | 709710 | 1.5% | 11.8% | ||
| -2500-2000 | 1026096 | 2.2% | 13.9% | 2.4% | 2.4% |
| -3000-2500 | 2590062 | 5.4% | 19.4% | 6.2% | 8.6% |
| -3500-3000 | 3463736 | 7.3% | 26.6% | 8.3% | 16.9% |
| -4000-3500 | 7068875 | 14.9% | 41.5% | 16.8% | 33.7% |
| -4500-4000 | 7704035 | 16.2% | 57.7% | 18.4% | 52.1% |
| -5000-4500 | 9828184 | 20.7% | 78.4% | 23.4% | 75.5% |
| -5500-5000 | 7771883 | 16.3% | 94.7% | 18.5% | 94.0% |
| -6000-5500 | 2310664 | 4.9% | 99.6% | 5.5% | 99.5% |
| -6500-6000 | 178749 | 0.4% | 99.9% | 0.4% | 99.9% |
| -7000-6500 | 19359 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| -7500-7000 | 7590 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| -8000-7500 | 6731 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| -8500-8000 | 560 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| Total Below Sea Level | 47573953 | ||||
| Total Below -2000 m | 41976524 |
Arctic
The Arctic Ocean boundary is defined here as extending from northernmostNorway to Spitzbergen to northeast Greenland. On the Pacific side, it is thenarrowest point of Bering Strait. The very wide continental shelves around theArctic Ocean are obvious in the figures.
| Range | Area Sq km | % Area | Cum % Area | % Area Below -2000 m | Cum % Area Below -2000 m |
| -0500-0000 | 6319008 | 57.3% | 57.3% | ||
| -1000-0500 | 363594 | 3.3% | 60.6% | ||
| -1500-1000 | 344233 | 3.1% | 63.7% | ||
| -2000-1500 | 498646 | 4.5% | 68.2% | ||
| -2500-2000 | 592807 | 5.4% | 73.6% | 16.9% | 16.9% |
| -3000-2500 | 632400 | 5.7% | 79.3% | 18.0% | 18.0% |
| -3500-3000 | 754094 | 6.8% | 86.1% | 21.5% | 21.5% |
| -4000-3500 | 1208591 | 11.0% | 97.1% | 34.4% | 34.4% |
| -4500-4000 | 320864 | 2.9% | 100.0% | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| -5000-4500 | 480 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| -5500-5000 | 0 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Total Below Sea Level | 11034716 | ||||
| Total Below -2000 m | 3509235 |
Indian
The Indian Ocean boundaries are here defined as the longitudes of thesouthernmost points of Africa and Tasmania.
| Range | Area Sq km | % Area | Cum % Area | % Area Below -2000 m | Cum % Area Below -2000 m |
| -0500-0000 | 4887266 | 6.3% | 6.3% | ||
| -1000-0500 | 1350591 | 1.7% | 8.0% | ||
| -1500-1000 | 1160361 | 1.5% | 9.5% | ||
| -2000-1500 | 1920540 | 2.5% | 12.0% | ||
| -2500-2000 | 2720602 | 3.5% | 15.5% | 4.0% | 4.0% |
| -3000-2500 | 4748714 | 6.1% | 21.7% | 7.0% | 10.9% |
| -3500-3000 | 8280445 | 10.7% | 32.3% | 12.1% | 23.1% |
| -4000-3500 | 11617222 | 15.0% | 47.3% | 17.0% | 40.1% |
| -4500-4000 | 15114534 | 19.5% | 66.8% | 22.2% | 62.3% |
| -5000-4500 | 14230044 | 18.4% | 85.2% | 20.9% | 83.1% |
| -5500-5000 | 9348008 | 12.1% | 97.2% | 13.7% | 96.8% |
| -6000-5500 | 1976746 | 2.5% | 99.8% | 2.9% | 99.7% |
| -6500-6000 | 185346 | 0.2% | 100.0% | 0.3% | 100.0% |
| -7000-6500 | 1717 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| -7500-7000 | 0 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| Total Below Sea Level | 77542135 | ||||
| Total Below -2000 m | 68223377 |
North Pacific
Continental shelves around the North Pacific tend to be narrow. The widestshelves are in the Bering Sea, the Sea of Okhotsk, and off China and Indonesia
| Range | Area Sq km | % Area | Cum % Area | % Area Below -2000 m | Cum % Area Below -2000 m |
| -0500-0000 | 6647415 | 7.8% | 7.8% | ||
| -1000-0500 | 1148509 | 1.3% | 9.2% | ||
| -1500-1000 | 1297424 | 1.5% | 10.7% | ||
| -2000-1500 | 1440367 | 1.7% | 12.4% | ||
| -2500-2000 | 1741243 | 2.0% | 14.4% | 2.3% | 2.3% |
| -3000-2500 | 2921755 | 3.4% | 17.9% | 3.9% | 6.3% |
| -3500-3000 | 5210045 | 6.1% | 24.0% | 7.0% | 13.2% |
| -4000-3500 | 8079590 | 9.5% | 33.5% | 10.8% | 24.1% |
| -4500-4000 | 11312793 | 13.3% | 46.8% | 15.2% | 39.3% |
| -5000-4500 | 13067304 | 15.4% | 62.1% | 17.5% | 56.8% |
| -5500-5000 | 16220885 | 19.1% | 81.2% | 21.8% | 78.6% |
| -6000-5500 | 14091691 | 16.6% | 97.8% | 18.9% | 97.5% |
| -6500-6000 | 1441329 | 1.7% | 99.5% | 1.9% | 99.4% |
| -7000-6500 | 220257 | 0.3% | 99.7% | 0.3% | 99.7% |
| -7500-7000 | 99126 | 0.1% | 99.8% | 0.1% | 99.8% |
| -8000-7500 | 56579 | 0.1% | 99.9% | 0.1% | 99.9% |
| -8500-8000 | 40005 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.1% | 99.9% |
| -9000-8500 | 28937 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| <-9000 | 10042 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| Total Below Sea Level | 85075295 | ||||
| Total Below -2000 m | 74541580 |
South Pacific
Continental shelves around the South Pacific tend to be narrow. Most of theshelf area is off Australia and Indonesia, and the submerged portions of NewZealand.
| Range | Area Sq km | % Area | Cum % Area | % Area Below -2000 m | Cum % Area Below -2000 m |
| -0500-0000 | 4766466 | 4.7% | 4.7% | ||
| -1000-0500 | 2052358 | 2.0% | 6.7% | ||
| -1500-1000 | 2169196 | 2.1% | 8.9% | ||
| -2000-1500 | 2470094 | 2.4% | 11.3% | ||
| -2500-2000 | 2977464 | 2.9% | 14.3% | 3.3% | 3.3% |
| -3000-2500 | 5478839 | 5.4% | 19.7% | 6.1% | 9.4% |
| -3500-3000 | 11044593 | 10.9% | 30.6% | 12.3% | 21.7% |
| -4000-3500 | 17486702 | 17.3% | 47.9% | 19.5% | 41.2% |
| -4500-4000 | 20884279 | 20.6% | 68.5% | 23.3% | 64.5% |
| -5000-4500 | 16721900 | 16.5% | 85.0% | 18.6% | 83.1% |
| -5500-5000 | 12380105 | 12.2% | 97.2% | 13.8% | 96.9% |
| -6000-5500 | 2435938 | 2.4% | 99.6% | 2.7% | 99.6% |
| -6500-6000 | 148502 | 0.1% | 99.8% | 0.2% | 99.8% |
| -7000-6500 | 92365 | 0.1% | 99.9% | 0.1% | 99.9% |
| -7500-7000 | 51634 | 0.1% | 99.9% | 0.1% | 99.9% |
| -8000-7500 | 38540 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| -8500-8000 | 10850 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| -9000-8500 | 12930 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| <-9000 | 1722 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| Total Below Sea Level | 101224478 | ||||
| Total Below -2000 m | 89766364 |
Antarctic (Southern)
The Antarctic or Southern Ocean is traditionally but arbitrarily defined asbeginning at 60 S. The figures in the table below are also included in thefigures for the South Atlantic, South Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
| Range | Area Sq km | % Area | Cum % Area | % Area Below -2000 m | Cum % Area Below -2000 m |
| -0500-0000 | 2157100 | 9.6% | 9.6% | ||
| -1000-0500 | 1437553 | 6.4% | 16.1% | ||
| -1500-1000 | 315431 | 1.4% | 17.5% | ||
| -2000-1500 | 397573 | 1.8% | 19.3% | ||
| -2500-2000 | 794262 | 3.6% | 22.8% | 4.4% | 4.4% |
| -3000-2500 | 1611906 | 7.2% | 30.0% | 8.9% | 13.3% |
| -3500-3000 | 2171170 | 9.7% | 39.7% | 12.0% | 25.3% |
| -4000-3500 | 2859319 | 12.8% | 52.5% | 15.8% | 41.2% |
| -4500-4000 | 4302351 | 19.2% | 71.7% | 23.8% | 65.0% |
| -5000-4500 | 3827507 | 17.1% | 88.8% | 21.2% | 86.2% |
| -5500-5000 | 2430192 | 10.9% | 99.7% | 13.5% | 99.6% |
| -6000-5500 | 63360 | 0.3% | 100.0% | 0.4% | 100.0% |
| -6500-6000 | 1432 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| -7000-6500 | 51 | 0.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% |
| Total Below Sea Level | 22369208 | ||||
| Total Below -2000 m | 18061551 |
Sources and Discussion
The data used in these tables was the 5-minute ETOPO5 set. Although more detailed data are available now, these data constitute aconveniently manageable data set for global statistics, and finer resolution isunlikely to result in significant changes.
The decisions that have to be made in constructing such tables are soarbitrary that there is little point in attempting extreme accuracy. Forexample, the Indian Ocean has to be cut off south of Africa and Australia, butthe choice of longitude has no real geographic or geological significance. Do wecount Hudson's Bay as part of the Atlantic Ocean or the Arctic? Is the boundaryof the Arctic Ocean and the Atlantic at the Arctic Circle? Or, as seems moregeologically sensible, do we include everything up to Spitzbergen in theAtlantic? Technically the Mediterranean and Black Seas are part of the Atlantic,although the statistics of the Mediterranean sea floor don't seem very relevantto those of the North Atlantic.
The ETOPO5 data set was incorporated into spreadsheets each covering15-degree longitude zones. For the most part, simple latitude andelevation cutoffs were sufficient to separate continents and oceans. A few minorirregularities, like including the western tip of Alaska in Asia or the westernend of Turkey in Europe, are not statistically important. Where simple cutoffswere not exactly correct, such as across Panama or the Red Sea, the cutoffs wereselected to equalize the areas on the "wrong" side. The only areawhere a simple cutoff just could not be used was between Australia and NewZealand. A subset of the data was extracted to tally the submerged crust of theLord Howe Rise.
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Created 12 August 2003, Last Update24 May 2020