Landlocked country

A landlocked country is a country that has no coastlines on the world ocean. As of 2026, there are 44 landlocked countries, two of them doubly landlocked due to being surrounded by other landlocked nations (Liechtenstein and Uzbekistan), and three landlocked de facto states in the world, South Ossetia, Kosovo and Transnistria. Kazakhstan is the world's largest landlocked country by area, Kyrgyzstan is the farthest landlocked country from any ocean, and Ethiopia is the world's most populous landlocked country.

Generally, being landlocked creates political and economic disadvantages that having access to international waters would avoid. For this reason, nations large and small throughout history have fought to gain access to open waters, even at great expense in wealth, bloodshed, and political capital.

The economic disadvantages of being landlocked can be alleviated or aggravated depending on degree of development, surrounding trade routes and freedom of trade, commonality of language, and other considerations. Some landlocked countries in Europe are affluent, such as Andorra, Austria, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, San Marino, Switzerland, and Vatican City, all of which, excluding Luxembourg (a founding member of NATO), frequently practice neutrality in global political issues.

However, 32 out of the 44 landlocked countries, including those in Africa, Asia, and South America, have been classified as Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) by the United Nations. Nine of the twelve countries with the lowest Human Development Index rankings are landlocked. International initiatives are aimed at reducing inequalities resulting from issues such as these, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10, which aims to reduce inequality substantially by 2030.

History

In 1990, there were only 30 landlocked countries in the world. Changes such as the dissolutions of the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia, the breakup of Yugoslavia, and the independence of places like Eritrea and Montenegro created new landlocked countries. By April 2024, there were 44 landlocked countries and three landlocked areas recognized by some but not all countries: Kosovo, South Ossetia, and Transnistria.

In September 2023, Azerbaijan took control of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, ending the existence of the Republic of Artsakh as a separate area.

Significance

Historically, being landlocked has been a challenge for countries. Without access to the sea, nations miss out on important resources like fishing and face difficulties in maritime trade, which is vital for growth. This often made coastal areas richer and more crowded than landlocked regions.

Some believe landlocked countries benefit from natural protection against cheap imports, helping local businesses. However, landlocked developing countries usually pay more for moving goods internationally. Travel between landlocked nations and others far away used to require passing through multiple borders, but air travel has made this easier today.

By degree

Landlocked countries can be bordered by one, two, or more countries. Some are surrounded by just one country, like Lesotho by South Africa, San Marino by Italy, and Vatican City also by Italy.

Others are surrounded by two countries, such as Andorra between France and Spain, and Bhutan between China and India. There are also two "doubly landlocked" countries, meaning they are surrounded only by other landlocked countries: Liechtenstein in Western Europe and Uzbekistan in Central Asia.

List of landlocked countries and landlocked de facto states

North America and Oceania have no landlocked countries. Landlocked countries and de facto states can be grouped into clusters based on their locations.

Some clusters include:

• Eastern, Middle, and Western African cluster: Burkina Faso, Burundi, the Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia, Mali, Niger, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Uganda
• Eastern, Southern, and Western European cluster: Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovakia, and Switzerland
• Central and Southern Asian cluster: Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan

"Single" landlocked countries are those that border no other landlocked country. These include:

• Asia: Bhutan, Laos, Mongolia, and Nepal
• Europe: Andorra, Belarus, Luxembourg, Moldova, San Marino, and Vatican City (the Holy See)
• Africa: Eswatini and Lesotho

Landlocked countries by continent

According to the United Nations geoscheme, Africa has the most landlocked countries, with 16, followed by Europe with 14, Asia with 12, and South America with 2. Australia, North America, and Antarctica have no landlocked countries, and Oceania also has none. Most landlocked countries are located on the continental mainland of Afro-Eurasia, except for Bolivia and Paraguay.