Landlocked Countries - Geography of Nations Without Coastlines

What Is a Landlocked Country?

A landlocked country has no coastline and shares all its borders with other countries' land territory. As of 2024, there are 44 landlocked countries: 16 in Africa, 12 in Europe, 12 in Asia, and 2 in South America. North America and Oceania have no landlocked nations.

Doubly Landlocked Countries

A doubly landlocked country is surrounded entirely by other landlocked countries, meaning you must cross at least two borders to reach the sea. Only two such countries exist: Liechtenstein (surrounded by Switzerland and Austria) and Uzbekistan (surrounded by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan).

Africa's Landlocked Belt

Central Africa contains a continuous belt of landlocked nations: Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Ethiopia. This concentration stems from colonial-era border drawing and remains a significant barrier to economic development due to limited sea access.

Using This Knowledge in Quizzes

When GeoHint reveals a 'no coastline' hint, you can narrow candidates to 44 countries. Combined with a regional hint, this dramatically reduces possibilities. European landlocked countries (Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Serbia) are well-known, but African landlocked nations are easily confused, so reviewing their positions on a map gives you an advantage.