Landlocked country

A landlocked country, also known as landlocked territory, is a nation with no coastline on an open sea or ocean. Such countries share borders only with other nations, so when they wish to import or export goods abroad using ships, they must first traverse the territory of another country or use the ports of a neighboring state.

The number of such countries is approximately forty worldwide, with the greatest concentration in Africa, Asia, and Europe. Some possess major rivers or inland bodies of water—the Caspian Sea, for instance—but this does not change the definition, since such waters are not directly connected to the world's oceans.

Definition and categories

The basic definition rests on maritime borders: a nation without access to an open sea. There also exists a technical term, double-landlocked, meaning a country with no ocean access and whose neighbors likewise have no ocean access. Notable examples are Liechtenstein in Europe and Uzbekistan in Central Asia.

Economic impact

Landlocked countries typically face elevated shipping costs, since goods must pass through twice: from sea to a neighboring port, then overland to domestic markets. Transit times and customs procedures across two nations further increase expenses. For this reason, international bodies have sometimes classified some of these countries as facing particular development obstacles.

Law and agreements

International maritime law recognizes the right of landlocked countries to ocean access through agreement with transit states. Bilateral agreements on port access, road transit, and customs typically outline the details. A landlocked nation may also register ships under its own flag even without possessing a port.