Earth's magnetic north pole is where the magnetic field lines are oriented vertically and plunge into the surface of the Earth i.e. where the magnetic inclination is +90 degrees. This is called the magnetic dip pole. The pole varies in position on a yearly basis due to secular variation (or drift in Earth's magnetic field). The British polar explorer Sir James Clark Ross measured the first location of the magnetic north pole on May 31, 1831 (70°5.5'N 96°46.0'W). Canadian government scientists have since measured the location of the magnetic north pole in 1994 and 2001. Below is a map showing the 1831 location measured by Ross and the subsequent 1994 and 2001 locations. The pole has progressively moved offshore over the past few years.

Another way to estimate the magnetic pole position is to calculate the theoretical position using global magnetic field models (i.e. the International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF) models). Below is a figure of the magnetic north pole based on the IGRF model fields from 1900 to January 1st 2000. This is the Geomagnetic dipole north pole.

To get more information on the latest location of the north magnetic pole check out the following web sites.