Which Country Has the Most Neighboring Countries?
China and Russia are tied for the record: each shares a land border with 14 other sovereign countries, more than any other nation on Earth. Brazil comes closest outside Eurasia, bordering 10 of the 12 other countries in South America.
China's 14 Neighbors
China's borders stretch across nearly every kind of terrain, from Himalayan peaks to Central Asian steppe to dense Southeast Asian jungle. Its 14 neighbors are:
- Afghanistan
- Bhutan
- India
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Mongolia
- Myanmar
- Nepal
- North Korea
- Pakistan
- Russia
- Tajikistan
- Vietnam
Russia's 14 Neighbors
Russia's land borders span two continents, from the Arctic to the Caucasus to the Pacific. One neighbor, Poland, only borders Russia because of the Kaliningrad exclave, a piece of Russian territory cut off from the rest of the country.
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- China
- Estonia
- Finland
- Georgia
- Kazakhstan
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Mongolia
- North Korea
- Norway
- Poland
- Ukraine
Countries With the Most Land Borders
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Download on the App Store| Rank | Country | Number of Neighbors |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 14 |
| 1 | Russia | 14 |
| 3 | Brazil | 10 |
| 4 | Germany | 9 |
| 4 | DR Congo | 9 |
| 6 | France | 8 |
| 6 | Turkey | 8 |
Why Do Some Countries Have So Many Neighbors?
It comes down to geography and shape more than raw size. China and Russia both sit at the center of the vast Eurasian landmass, so their borders touch nearly every neighboring region. Brazil is the clearest example outside Eurasia: it borders every South American country except Chile and Ecuador, simply because of its position and size on the continent.
→The 10 Largest Countries in the World by AreaDoes a Country's Size Determine Its Number of Neighbors?
Not necessarily. Some of the largest countries in the world have very few neighbors: Canada borders only the United States, and Australia has none at all, since it's an island continent. Meanwhile, a few tiny countries have just one neighbor because they're entirely enclosed by a larger one, like Lesotho (surrounded by South Africa), San Marino, and Vatican City (both surrounded by Italy).
Which two countries are tied for the most land borders?
China and Russia are tied for first place, each bordering 14 other sovereign countries.
How many countries does Brazil border?
Brazil borders 10 of the other 12 countries in South America, every one except Chile and Ecuador.
Which country is completely surrounded by just one other country?
Lesotho is entirely surrounded by South Africa, and both San Marino and Vatican City are entirely surrounded by Italy.
How many countries does the United States border?
The US mainland borders two countries, Canada and Mexico, though Alaska also sits close to Russia across the Bering Strait.
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