World geography · Updated September 2026
Landlocked countries
A landlocked country has no ocean coastline. Kazakhstan is the largest. Liechtenstein and Uzbekistan are double-landlocked. Why access to the sea still matters.
A landlocked country has no coastline on the open ocean. Goods must cross a neighbour to reach a seaport. That is why trade treaties and rail corridors show up in geography exams.
There are more than 40 landlocked UN members. Kazakhstan is the largest by area. Ethiopia is one of the most populous. Bolivia and Paraguay are the two landlocked states in South America.
Double-landlocked means every neighbour is also landlocked. Only Liechtenstein (Europe) and Uzbekistan (Asia) meet that test. Lesotho is an enclave inside South Africa — landlocked and surrounded by one country.
Landlocked countries — key facts (2026)
| Topic | Fact |
|---|---|
| Meaning | No coastline on the world ocean |
| Largest landlocked | Kazakhstan |
| Double-landlocked | Liechtenstein and Uzbekistan |
| Enclave example | Lesotho (inside South Africa) |
| South America | Bolivia and Paraguay |
| Africa examples | Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana |
| Europe examples | Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Czechia, Serbia |
| Caspian note | The Caspian is a lake, not an ocean — so Kazakhstan is still landlocked |
Figures are the usual classroom and news-desk numbers for 2026. Border disputes and membership votes can change a count by one or two.
People also ask
How many landlocked countries are there?
Over 40 UN members. Counts move if you include disputed states such as Kosovo.
Is Kazakhstan landlocked if it touches the Caspian Sea?
Yes. The Caspian is an inland water body, not an arm of the world ocean.
What does double-landlocked mean?
Every neighbouring country is also landlocked. Liechtenstein and Uzbekistan.