This study presents a four-decade analysis of the Antarctic Ice Sheet's mass balance from 1979 to 2017, revealing a significant increase in mass loss. The total mass loss rose from 40 ± 9 Gt/y in 1979–1990 to 252 ± 26 Gt/y in 2009–2017, with the majority of the loss occurring in West Antarctica, East Antarctica, and the Antarctic Peninsula. The mass loss contributed to sea-level rise, with an average of 3.6 ± 0.5 mm per decade since 1979, including 6.9 ± 0.6 mm from West Antarctica, 4.4 ± 0.9 mm from East Antarctica, and 2.5 ± 0.4 mm from the Peninsula. The mass loss is primarily driven by enhanced glacier flow in areas closest to warm, salty, subsurface circumpolar deep water (CDW), which melts ice shelves and destabilizes glaciers. The study highlights that East Antarctica has been a major contributor to the mass loss, despite its generally stable reputation. The results show that the Antarctic Ice Sheet is out of balance with snowfall accumulation, with significant mass loss in the Amundsen/Bellingshausen Sea sectors, West Antarctica, Wilkes Land, and the Antarctic Peninsula. The study also notes that the mass loss has accelerated over time, with the most significant increases occurring in the 1990s and 2000s. The findings suggest that the Antarctic Ice Sheet is a major contributor to sea-level rise, with the potential for further acceleration in the future due to continued warming and changes in ocean circulation. The study uses updated data on ice velocity, thickness, and surface mass balance to calculate the ice discharge and mass balance of 176 basins draining the Antarctic Ice Sheet. The results are consistent with previous studies, but the current analysis provides a more comprehensive and detailed understanding of the mass balance of the Antarctic Ice Sheet over the past four decades. The study also highlights the importance of continued monitoring and research to better understand the impacts of climate change on the Antarctic Ice Sheet and its contribution to sea-level rise.This study presents a four-decade analysis of the Antarctic Ice Sheet's mass balance from 1979 to 2017, revealing a significant increase in mass loss. The total mass loss rose from 40 ± 9 Gt/y in 1979–1990 to 252 ± 26 Gt/y in 2009–2017, with the majority of the loss occurring in West Antarctica, East Antarctica, and the Antarctic Peninsula. The mass loss contributed to sea-level rise, with an average of 3.6 ± 0.5 mm per decade since 1979, including 6.9 ± 0.6 mm from West Antarctica, 4.4 ± 0.9 mm from East Antarctica, and 2.5 ± 0.4 mm from the Peninsula. The mass loss is primarily driven by enhanced glacier flow in areas closest to warm, salty, subsurface circumpolar deep water (CDW), which melts ice shelves and destabilizes glaciers. The study highlights that East Antarctica has been a major contributor to the mass loss, despite its generally stable reputation. The results show that the Antarctic Ice Sheet is out of balance with snowfall accumulation, with significant mass loss in the Amundsen/Bellingshausen Sea sectors, West Antarctica, Wilkes Land, and the Antarctic Peninsula. The study also notes that the mass loss has accelerated over time, with the most significant increases occurring in the 1990s and 2000s. The findings suggest that the Antarctic Ice Sheet is a major contributor to sea-level rise, with the potential for further acceleration in the future due to continued warming and changes in ocean circulation. The study uses updated data on ice velocity, thickness, and surface mass balance to calculate the ice discharge and mass balance of 176 basins draining the Antarctic Ice Sheet. The results are consistent with previous studies, but the current analysis provides a more comprehensive and detailed understanding of the mass balance of the Antarctic Ice Sheet over the past four decades. The study also highlights the importance of continued monitoring and research to better understand the impacts of climate change on the Antarctic Ice Sheet and its contribution to sea-level rise.