Some countries share a border with just one neighbor. Others share land borders with well over a dozen. Here are the countries with the most borders in the world.
Countries That Border the Most Other Countries
- China — 14 neighboring countries, tied for the most of any nation in the world
- Russia — also 14 neighboring countries, a natural result of being the largest country in the world by area
- Brazil — 10 neighboring countries, bordering every South American nation except Chile and Ecuador
- Germany — 9 neighboring countries, the most of any country in Western Europe
- Democratic Republic of the Congo — 9 neighboring countries
- Austria and Turkey — both border 8 neighboring countries
See land area and other details for any of these countries on our Rankings page.
Why Border Count Matters
The number of neighbors a country has affects everything from trade logistics and migration patterns to security policy and diplomatic complexity. Germany’s nine borders are a major reason the European Union placed such heavy emphasis on open internal borders through the Schengen Area, while China and Russia’s 14 neighbors each span multiple, often very different, regions and relationships.
The Opposite Extreme
At the other end of the spectrum are countries with just one land neighbor, like Portugal (only Spain), Canada (only the United States), and South Korea (only North Korea) — or none at all. See our companion piece on the countries with no land borders at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
What country has the most neighboring countries?
China and Russia are tied for the most neighboring countries in the world, each bordering 14 other nations.
How many countries does Germany border?
Germany borders nine other countries, more than any other country in Western Europe.
Which large country has the fewest neighbors?
Canada, despite being the second-largest country in the world by area, borders only one other country: the United States.
Explore border and area data for any country with our Compare tool.
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