The idea of a nuclear war is terrifying, but researchers and defense analysts have actually studied which parts of the world might fare best if the unthinkable happened. Geography, food production, political neutrality, and distance from major military targets all play a huge role in determining nuclear war survival odds. Surprisingly, many of the countries with the best chances aren’t powerful nations at all—they’re remote places with strong agricultural capacity and limited strategic importance.
Some studies suggest that countries in the Southern Hemisphere could be less affected by fallout and climate disruptions compared to heavily targeted Northern Hemisphere regions. Here are 10 nations experts often say would have the strongest nuclear war survival odds if a global nuclear exchange ever occurred.
