Landlocked Countries of the World MCQs — Lists, Continents & Key Facts

A landlocked country has no direct access to any ocean or sea. Its only routes to international waters lie across one or more neighbouring countries.

There are 44 fully landlocked countries in the world according to the UN. In addition, 8 countries are considered semi-landlocked with very short coastlines.

There are 8 semi-landlocked countries — nations like Iraq, Jordan, Bosnia-Herzegovina and DR Congo that have only very short coastlines or enclosed-sea access.

Uzbekistan is one of only two double-landlocked countries in the world — surrounded entirely by other landlocked countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan).

Uzbekistan (Central Asia) and Liechtenstein (Central Europe) are the only two double-landlocked countries. Liechtenstein is surrounded by Switzerland and Austria — both themselves landlocked.

Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked country in the world, covering approximately 2.7 million km². It is also the 9th-largest country overall, yet completely landlocked.

Kazakhstan covers roughly 2.7 million square kilometres, making it the largest landlocked country in the world and the 9th-largest country overall.

Mongolia is the second-largest landlocked country in the world. It is sandwiched between Russia to the north and China to the south.

Chad is the third-largest landlocked country in the world. It is located in north-central Africa, in the heart of the Sahara region.

Afghanistan is Pakistan’s landlocked neighbour to the west and northwest. It is located in the South-Central Asia region.

Nepal and Bhutan are both landlocked Himalayan states in South Asia, lying between India and China. Both depend on India for sea access.

Laos is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar.

Armenia is a landlocked country in the South Caucasus. Other landlocked Asian republics include Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan.

Asia has 12 landlocked countries in total, including Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Laos, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Africa has the most landlocked countries in the world — 16 in total. Europe has 14, Asia has 12 and South America has only 2.

Africa has 16 landlocked countries, the highest of any continent. Examples include Chad, Ethiopia, Mali, Niger, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Rwanda, CAR and Malawi.

Lesotho is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, completely surrounded by South Africa. Eswatini (Swaziland) is also landlocked within the region.

Eswatini was formerly known as Swaziland. It officially renamed itself the Kingdom of Eswatini in 2018 and remains a landlocked country in Southern Africa.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has only a 37 km coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, which is why it is classified as semi-landlocked rather than fully coastal.

South Sudan became an independent landlocked country on 9 July 2011 after separating from Sudan. It is the newest landlocked country in the world.

Europe has 14 landlocked countries, including Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Belarus, Serbia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Andorra, San Marino, Vatican City, North Macedonia and Moldova.

Switzerland is a landlocked country in Central Europe, surrounded by Germany, France, Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein. Austria and Hungary are other notable landlocked Central European states.

Poland has a coastline on the Baltic Sea and is NOT landlocked. Belarus, Czech Republic and Slovakia are all landlocked European countries.

Serbia became landlocked on 28 June 2006 after the dissolution of Serbia and Montenegro. Montenegro retained the Adriatic Sea coastline.

Serbia became landlocked in 2006 when Montenegro declared independence — the dissolution of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro left Serbia without sea access.

Monaco has a Mediterranean coastline and is NOT landlocked. Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Andorra, San Marino (and Vatican City) are the landlocked European microstates.

Switzerland is consistently ranked among the most developed and prosperous countries in the world despite being landlocked — proving that geography is not destiny.

Bolivia and Paraguay are the only two landlocked countries in South America. All other South American nations have at least one ocean coastline.

South America has only 2 landlocked countries: Bolivia and Paraguay. Every other South American country borders either the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean or the Caribbean Sea.

Bolivia lost its Pacific coastline during the War of the Pacific (1879–1884) when Chile defeated Bolivia and Peru. The dispute over sea access remains a diplomatic issue today.

The War of the Pacific was fought from 1879 to 1884 between Chile on one side and Bolivia and Peru on the other. Chile’s victory left Bolivia permanently landlocked.

Bolivia lost its Pacific coast to Chile during the War of the Pacific (1879–1884). The lost coastal region became Chile’s Antofagasta Region.

Paraguay uses the Paraná-Paraguay river system to reach the Atlantic Ocean via the Río de la Plata estuary. This is a vital trade lifeline for the landlocked country.

North America, Australia (Oceania) and Antarctica have no landlocked countries. All countries on these continents have ocean access.

North America has access to both the Atlantic Ocean (east coast) and the Pacific Ocean (west coast), plus the Arctic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south.

Iraq is semi-landlocked — it has only a tiny ~58 km coastline on the Persian Gulf at Umm Qasr. Jordan and Bosnia-Herzegovina are similarly classified as semi-landlocked.

Croatia has a long Adriatic Sea coastline and is NOT landlocked. Although its borders zigzag inland (around Bosnia-Herzegovina), it remains a coastal nation.

Sudan has a Red Sea coastline and is NOT landlocked. Chad, Niger and Mali are all landlocked countries in Africa. Note: South Sudan IS landlocked.

Spain has long Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines and is NOT landlocked. Switzerland, Austria and Hungary are all landlocked Central European countries.

Uganda is a landlocked East African country with no coast. Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique all have Indian Ocean coastlines.

Mali, Niger and Chad are landlocked countries in the Sahel region of West/Central Africa, stretching across the southern edge of the Sahara desert.

Ethiopia is landlocked. It lost its Red Sea coastline when Eritrea declared independence in 1993. Somalia, Eritrea and Djibouti are all coastal.

Andorra is a tiny landlocked principality in the eastern Pyrenees mountains, between France and Spain.

Luxembourg is a small landlocked country bordered by France to the south, Belgium to the west and Germany to the east.

San Marino is a tiny landlocked microstate completely surrounded by Italy. It is one of the world’s oldest republics.

Both the Czech Republic and Slovakia are landlocked. They were created in 1993 when Czechoslovakia peacefully dissolved in the ‘Velvet Divorce’.

Rwanda is a landlocked East African country famous for its mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. Burundi and Uganda are also landlocked neighbours.

Lesotho is the only larger sovereign country completely surrounded by a single other country — South Africa. Vatican City and San Marino are also enclaves but are microstates.

The Caspian Sea is the world’s largest enclosed inland body of water with no natural outlet to any ocean. So Kazakhstan, despite its Caspian coast, is still classified as landlocked.

Bosnia-Herzegovina is semi-landlocked because it has only a very short Adriatic coastline of about 20 km at the town of Neum — barely enough for any significant port activity.