Australia and New Zealand best placed to survive nuclear apocalypse, study finds (2024)

The lucky country can count on one more piece of good fortune, with researchers finding Australia – followed by neighbour New Zealand – best placed to survive a nuclear winter and help reboot a collapsed human civilisation.

The study published in the journal Risk Analysis describes Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu as the island countries most capable of producing enough food for their populations after an “abrupt sunlight‐reducing catastrophe” such as a nuclear war, super volcano or asteroid strike.

There would “likely be pockets of survivors around the planet in even the most severe” scenario, the researchers write – with those in the most resilient nations standing the best chance of avoiding a pre-industrial collapse.

The authors compared 38 island countries on 13 factors they said could predict success as a post-apocalyptic survival state, including food production, energy self-sufficiency, manufacturing and the disaster’s effect on climate. Australia and New Zealand – both robust agricultural producers and tucked away from the likely sites of northern hemisphere nuclear fallout – topped the tables, with Australia performing best overall.

“Australia’s food supply buffer is gigantic,” the study concludes, “with potential to feed many tens of millions of extra people.”

Australia’s relatively good infrastructure, vast energy surplus, high health security and defence budget all aided in pushing it to the top of the table. Australia did have one major factor working against it, however: its relatively close military ties with the UK and US made it more likely to become a target in a nuclear war.

In this area, New Zealand displayed some advantages, the authors said, with its longstanding nuclear-free status. Its resilience in the event of an abrupt drop in global temperature prompted by a period of darkness (everywhere in New Zealand is relatively close to the ocean, cushioning it from extreme temperature plunges) would also help.

“We have this super efficient food export economy that could feed New Zealanders multiple times over just from exports,” said one of the study’s authors, Prof Nick Wilson from the University of Otago, Wellington. Even in the worst-case scenario – a 61% reduction in crops during a prolonged nuclear winter – New Zealanders would still have enough to eat, he added.

Despite New Zealand’s abundance of food and its high ranking on social cohesion metrics, a shutdown of global trade could precipitate social collapse by degrees, Wilson added.

“I am concerned about a false security for New Zealand,” Wilson said. The country no longer had any facility refining fuel and is intensely dependent on imports for the diesel, pesticides and machinery needed to sustain its dominant agricultural sector.

Other island countries would be able to produce enough food in such a crisis, Wilson and co-author Dr Matt Boyd wrote, but the likely collapse of industry and social cohesion put their resilience in doubt. China, Russia and the United States could see food production fall up to 97% under nuclear winter models and would be forced to rely on new food production technologies.

Australia and New Zealand best placed to survive nuclear apocalypse, study finds (2024)

FAQs

Australia and New Zealand best placed to survive nuclear apocalypse, study finds? ›

Australia and New Zealand best placed to survive nuclear apocalypse, study finds. The lucky country can count on one more piece of good fortune, with researchers finding Australia – followed by neighbour New Zealand – best placed to survive a nuclear winter and help reboot a collapsed human civilisation.

Are Australia and New Zealand best placed to survive nuclear apocalypse study finds? ›

Study finds island countries would be most capable of producing enough food for populations after a nuclear war, super volcano or asteroid strike. Researchers have found Australia followed by neighbour New Zealand are best placed to survive a nuclear winter and help reboot a collapsed human civilisation.

Could Australia be the safest country if there is a nuclear apocalypse? ›

Eventually, it would affect Australia. The only good news is that research has shown that Australia and New Zealand are among the best places in the world to survive a nuclear apocalypse. Australia scored well as it has a good infrastructure, a huge energy surplus, high health security and abundant food supplies.

Could Australia survive a nuclear war? ›

Australia and New Zealand are widely regarded as the best places to survive a nuclear apocalypse. They're strategically insignificant. They're isolated. They're behind a natural “weather wall” created by the equator, which is expected to slow the rate at which nuclear fallout will filter down from the north.

Is New Zealand the safest place in a nuclear war? ›

Nestled in the Pacific with vast amounts of water surrounding our borders, New Zealand and Australia have been deemed the most capable of sustaining their populations in the aftermath of a nuclear war, super volcano eruption or asteroid impact.

Which country is most likely to survive WWIII? ›

New Zealand and Australia could be among the safest places on the planet in the event of World War III. They are surrounded by water on all sides, have a temperate climate, and, most importantly, no deepwater ports that could be used by enemy landing forces for attack and logistical purposes.

Will New Zealand survive the apocalypse? ›

Australia and New Zealand best placed to survive nuclear apocalypse, study finds. The lucky country can count on one more piece of good fortune, with researchers finding Australia – followed by neighbour New Zealand – best placed to survive a nuclear winter and help reboot a collapsed human civilisation.

Where is the safest place to be if ww3 starts? ›

Switzerland, renowned for its political neutrality, features mountainous terrain, a landlocked geography, and numerous nuclear shelters. Even if nukes were to land there, the Swiss populace is well-protected with bunkers and surrounded by mountains, creating a formidable defence against neighbouring war-torn countries.

What is the safest country in World War 3? ›

The island of Greenland, which belongs to Denmark, is the world's largest island. Greenland is notoriously remote, mountainous and politically neutral, making it an ideal refuge point in an emergency.

What is the safest country in the world? ›

Profiles of the World's 10 Safest Countries
  1. Iceland. According to the Global Peace Index, Iceland is the safest country in the world for the 14th year in a row. ...
  2. New Zealand. New Zealand is the second-safest country in the world. ...
  3. Ireland. ...
  4. Denmark. ...
  5. Austria. ...
  6. Portugal. ...
  7. Slovenia. ...
  8. Czech Republic.

What country is most likely to survive a nuclear war? ›

Scientists have recently revealed that Australia and New Zealand are best placed to survive a nuclear apocalypse and help reboot collapsed human civilisation. The study, published in the journal Risk Analysis. These countries include not just Australia and New Zealand, but also Iceland, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

Where is the safest place to live if there is a nuclear war? ›

Some estimates name Maine, Oregon, Northern California, and Western Texas as some of the safest locales in the case of nuclear war, due to their lack of large urban centers and nuclear power plants.

Where is the safest place on earth from nuclear fallout? ›

Australia: A big agricultural producer, can feed millions more in case of a nuclear war with massive food supply buffer.
  • Iceland: A study says Iceland is a safe place and can survive a nuclear disaster.
  • Indonesia: Good food production, energy self-sufficiency, manufacturing, and minimal radiation effect on climate.
Oct 15, 2023

What food would survive a nuclear war? ›

Some options people should consider stockpiling are pasta, beans, rice, protein bars, and canned items higher in protein like black beans or beef stew. Families should pack items they enjoy eating.

Would Canada be safe in a nuclear war? ›

Because most people in Canada live outside of likely target areas and would likely not be affected by the blast and heat effects of nuclear explosions, protection against fallout is all that is required by them. The type of shelter required depends on the distance from the explosion.

Would New Zealand survive a nuclear winter? ›

NZ one of few island nations with potential to produce enough food in a nuclear winter. New Zealand is one of only a few island nations that could continue to produce enough food to feed its population in a nuclear winter, researchers have found.

What is the best country to survive a nuclear war? ›

Scientists have recently revealed that Australia and New Zealand are best placed to survive a nuclear apocalypse and help reboot collapsed human civilisation. The study, published in the journal Risk Analysis. These countries include not just Australia and New Zealand, but also Iceland, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

Would New Zealand survive nuclear fallout? ›

Any fallout from a nuclear war elsewhere in the world is unlikely to reach NZ in large quantities. So yes, NZ is as safe a place as you are likely to find in the event of a nuclear war.

Where is the best place to survive a nuclear war? ›

The best locations are underground and in the middle of larger buildings. While commuting, identify appropriate shelters to seek in the event of a detonation. Outdoor areas, vehicles and mobile homes do NOT provide adequate shelter. Look for basem*nts or the center of large multi-story buildings.

Where is the safest place to live in the world if there is a nuclear war? ›

Most popular answer on this question is Switzerland??? New Zealand would be the safest country and Australia, a very close second.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Patricia Veum II

Last Updated:

Views: 5796

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (44 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Patricia Veum II

Birthday: 1994-12-16

Address: 2064 Little Summit, Goldieton, MS 97651-0862

Phone: +6873952696715

Job: Principal Officer

Hobby: Rafting, Cabaret, Candle making, Jigsaw puzzles, Inline skating, Magic, Graffiti

Introduction: My name is Patricia Veum II, I am a vast, combative, smiling, famous, inexpensive, zealous, sparkling person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.