How much of the world isn’t owned by anyone?
Summary
Host Lizzie McNeill explores how much of Earth’s surface is unowned, featuring Mark Cooper-Jones from MapMen. They discuss international waters, which cover 43% of the globe, and the concept of terra nullius on land. The episode highlights Marie Byrd Land in Antarctica and disputed border zones like Bir Tawil and Liberland, revealing that unowned land comprises less than 0.3% of the planet.
Topics discussed
Introduction: How much of the world is unowned?
The High Seas and international waters
Terra Nullius and colonial history
Marie Byrd Land in Antarctica
Bir Tawil: The Egypt-Sudan border dispute
Gornja Siga and the Republic of Liberland
Conclusion and credits
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