A landlocked country is one that has no coastline on any ocean or sea. There are 44 landlocked countries in the world — more than a fifth of all nations. Being landlocked often presents significant economic challenges, as countries without ports must rely on neighbours for access to international trade routes.

Africa Has the Most Landlocked Countries

Africa has 16 landlocked countries — more than any other continent. This is partly a legacy of colonial borders that were drawn without consideration for natural geography or trade access. Some of Africa's most economically challenged nations are landlocked, including Mali, Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic and South Sudan. Ethiopia, the most populous landlocked country in the world, was once a coastal nation but lost its Eritrean coastline when Eritrea gained independence in 1993.

Mali — one of 16 landlocked countries in Africa

The Doubly Landlocked Countries

Two countries in the world are doubly landlocked — completely surrounded by other landlocked countries. This means you must cross at least two borders to reach any coastline. Uzbekistan in Central Asia is surrounded by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan — all landlocked. Liechtenstein in Europe is surrounded by Switzerland and Austria — also both landlocked. These are the only two doubly landlocked countries in the world.

Uzbekistan

Liechtenstein

Europe's Landlocked Nations

Europe has 14 landlocked countries, more than any continent except Africa. These include some of the world's wealthiest and most stable nations — Switzerland, Austria and Luxembourg are all landlocked but extremely prosperous. The Central European landlocked countries — Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Kosovo — are all former parts of empires or federations that had access to the sea.

Bolivia — The Country That Lost Its Sea

Bolivia is perhaps the most famous case of a country that was not always landlocked. Before 1879, Bolivia had a coastal region on the Pacific Ocean. During the War of the Pacific (1879-1884), Chile defeated Bolivia and Peru and captured Bolivia's coastal province of Antofagasta. Bolivia has been landlocked ever since — and has never fully accepted this situation. Bolivia maintains a navy (on Lake Titicaca and its rivers) and officially celebrates Día del Mar (Day of the Sea) as a national holiday, still claiming its right to sovereign sea access.

La Paz, Bolivia — capital of South America's other landlocked nation

Central Asian Landlocked Nations

The five Central Asian countries — Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan — are all landlocked. They were once connected to the global trading network through the Silk Road, which ran through their territories connecting China with the Mediterranean. Today they rely heavily on Russia and China for trade access. Kazakhstan, despite being landlocked, is the ninth largest country in the world with vast oil reserves.

The Advantages of Being Landlocked

While being landlocked is generally seen as an economic disadvantage, there are some upsides. Landlocked countries rarely have to worry about naval threats or piracy. Some of the world's wealthiest nations — Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein — are landlocked, suggesting that geography alone does not determine prosperity. Switzerland in particular has built an extraordinary economy based on banking, manufacturing and tourism despite having no port.

Complete List of Landlocked Countries by Continent

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

Can you identify landlocked countries from their silhouettes or flags? Many of them feature in our quizzes — test your knowledge at MyGeoQuiz!