Countries with No Land Borders at All

While some countries share borders with over a dozen neighbors, a distinct group of nations has none at all — typically because they are entirely surrounded by ocean. These countries with no land borders include some of the most geographically isolated nations on Earth.

Countries with No Land Borders

• Japan, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka — large island nations with no land connection to any neighbor
• Madagascar — the world’s fourth-largest island, isolated in the Indian Ocean
• New Zealand — separated from Australia by the Tasman Sea
• Iceland — isolated in the North Atlantic
• Cuba, Jamaica, and most other Caribbean island nations
• Malta and Cyprus — the only two European Union members with no land borders
• Nearly every Pacific island nation, including Fiji, Tuvalu, Samoa, and Tonga

See area and population data for any of these countries on our Rankings page.

How This Shapes National Identity and Policy

Having no land borders fundamentally changes how a country approaches defense, trade, and immigration compared to its heavily-bordered counterparts covered in our piece on the countries with the most neighboring countries. Border-free island nations rely entirely on sea and air routes for trade and travel, often develop distinct national identities shaped by relative isolation, and in the case of countries like Japan and the UK, have historically been able to control immigration and security more directly than land-bordered neighbors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What countries have no land borders at all?

Island nations such as Japan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, New Zealand, Iceland, and most Caribbean and Pacific nations have no land borders.

Are there any non-island countries with no land borders?

Almost all countries with no land borders are islands or island groups; there are essentially no mainland-only exceptions, since a land border requires touching another country’s territory directly.

Which EU countries have no land borders?

Malta and Cyprus are the only two European Union member states with no land borders to another country.

Compare geography for any of these island nations using our Compare tool.

Related Reading

• Countries with the Longest Coastlines
• Largest Countries in the World by Area
• Smallest Countries in the World by Area