Landlocked Countries: A Complete Guide

A landlocked country is one with no access to any ocean or sea. This geographic situation, shared by 44 sovereign nations, has profound consequences for trade, economics, and geopolitics.

What Does "Landlocked" Mean?

A landlocked country is entirely surrounded by other countries, with no coastline on any ocean or sea. To import or export goods by sea, landlocked nations must negotiate transit rights through neighbors, which adds costs, delays, and political risk to every shipment.

The Economic Disadvantage

World Bank research shows landlocked countries face significant disadvantages compared to coastal nations. Shipping costs can be 50% higher. For this reason, many landlocked countries, particularly in Africa and Central Asia, rank among the least economically developed.

The United Nations addresses this through the Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries, dedicated to helping these nations build trade infrastructure and reduce transit barriers.

The Doubly Landlocked Countries

The most extreme cases are countries surrounded entirely by other landlocked countries. Only two exist in the world:

Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein is bordered by Switzerland and Austria, both landlocked. Despite this challenge, it has one of the highest GDP per capita in the world, driven by financial services and highly specialized manufacturing.

Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is surrounded by Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, all landlocked. With about 36 million people, it is the most populous doubly landlocked country.

Bolivia's Battle for the Sea

Bolivia lost its Pacific coastline after the War of the Pacific (1879–1884) against Chile. This remains a defining feature of Bolivian national identity. "Día del Mar" (Day of the Sea) is a national holiday commemorating the loss.

Bolivia still maintains a navy, the Bolivian Naval Force, which patrols Lake Titicaca and inland waterways. In 2018, Bolivia took Chile to the International Court of Justice seeking sea access, but the court ruled in Chile's favor.

The 44 Landlocked Countries by Continent

• Africa (16): Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Niger, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
• Europe (14): Austria, Belarus, Czech Republic, Hungary, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Moldova, North Macedonia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Switzerland, Vatican City
• Asia (12): Afghanistan, Armenia, Bhutan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan (debated)
• Americas (2): Bolivia, Paraguay

How Landlocked Countries Access Global Trade

Despite the challenges, landlocked countries have found creative solutions: bilateral transit agreements, river systems that flow to the sea, regional free trade blocs, and dedicated rail and road corridors. Switzerland, Austria, and Luxembourg have all become wealthy in spite of their landlocked positions, demonstrating that geography is not destiny.

Globe covers every one of these 44 countries with daily geography facts. Download the app to explore their capitals, cultures, landscapes, and fascinating stories.