Emperor penguins live only in Antarctica, on and around the sea ice that surrounds the Antarctic continent.

Quick Scoop: Where do emperor penguins live?

  • They are endemic to Antarctica, meaning they are found nowhere else in the wild.
  • Most colonies are located around the entire Antarctic coastline, usually between about 66° and 78° south latitude.
  • They breed on stable “fast ice” – solid sea ice that is attached to the land, often near ice cliffs or icebergs that help block the wind.
  • Over 60 breeding colonies (rookeries) have been recorded, generally within about 80 km (50 miles) of the coast.
  • Outside the breeding season, they spend most of their time in the surrounding Southern Ocean, foraging in pack-ice zones where open water is accessible.

In short, if you’re looking for emperor penguins, you’re looking at the frozen seascape of coastal Antarctica and the icy ocean right next to it.

TL;DR: Emperor penguins live in and around coastal Antarctica, breeding on stable sea ice attached to the continent and feeding in the icy Southern Ocean nearby.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.