Having no direct access to the ocean shapes a country’s economy, trade routes, and even its military strategy. This landlocked countries list covers all 44 nations in the world with no coastline.
Doubly Landlocked Countries
Two countries in the world are “doubly landlocked” — meaning every neighboring country is itself also landlocked, so reaching the sea requires crossing at least two borders:
- Liechtenstein — surrounded by Switzerland and Austria, both landlocked
- Uzbekistan — surrounded entirely by other landlocked Central Asian nations
Notable Landlocked Countries by Region
- Europe: Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Slovakia, Czechia, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Andorra, San Marino, Vatican City, Serbia, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Moldova, Belarus
- Africa: Ethiopia (the world’s most populous landlocked country), Chad, Mali, Niger, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi, South Sudan, Eswatini, Lesotho
- Asia: Kazakhstan (the largest landlocked country in the world by area), Mongolia, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Laos, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Armenia
- Americas: Bolivia and Paraguay — the only two landlocked countries in the Western Hemisphere
See land area and other details for any of these countries on our Rankings page.
Why Being Landlocked Matters Economically
Landlocked countries generally face higher trade costs, since goods must cross at least one other country’s territory (and pay associated transit fees and tariffs) to reach a seaport. Several landlocked nations, including Ethiopia and Bolivia, have invested heavily in rail and pipeline agreements with coastal neighbors specifically to reduce this disadvantage. Kazakhstan, as the largest landlocked country in the world, has built extensive rail infrastructure connecting it to both European and Asian markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many landlocked countries are there in the world?
There are 44 landlocked countries in the world, plus a small number of partially recognized landlocked territories.
What are the only two “doubly landlocked” countries?
Liechtenstein and Uzbekistan are the only two doubly landlocked countries — every country bordering them is itself also landlocked.
What is the largest landlocked country?
Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked country in the world by area.
See coastline and border data for any country using our Compare tool.
[…] course, not every country has a coastline at all. See our companion piece on the landlocked countries list for the 44 nations with no ocean access […]