Asia has 12 landlocked countries: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. These nations have no coastline and rely on neighboring countries for access to seaports and global maritime trade.
What Does Landlocked Mean?
A landlocked country is entirely enclosed by land, with no direct access to an ocean or sea. This geographic condition shapes a nation’s economy, trade routes, and international relations. Of the world’s 44 landlocked countries, 12 are in Asia, more than any other continent except Africa (which has 16). Two Asian landlocked states—Uzbekistan and Liechtenstein (in Europe)—are doubly landlocked, meaning they are surrounded only by other landlocked countries. Uzbekistan is the only doubly landlocked country in Asia, bordered by Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, all of which are also landlocked.
List of Asian Landlocked Countries
- Afghanistan – Central Asia; borders six countries, no coastline.
- Armenia – South Caucasus; bordered by Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Iran.
- Azerbaijan – South Caucasus; borders the Caspian Sea (which is a lake, not a sea), so it is still landlocked.
- Bhutan – South Asia; nestled between India and China.
- Kazakhstan – Central Asia; the world’s largest landlocked country by area.
- Kyrgyzstan – Central Asia; mountainous, bordered by China and three Central Asian states.
- Laos – Southeast Asia; the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia.
- Mongolia – East Asia; between Russia and China.
- Nepal – South Asia; between India and China.
- Tajikistan – Central Asia; bordered by Afghanistan, China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.
- Turkmenistan – Central Asia; borders the Caspian Sea (a lake), so it remains landlocked.
- Uzbekistan – Central Asia; doubly landlocked.
Why Are These Countries Landlocked?
Geography and history explain why these nations lack coastlines. Many are located in mountainous or arid regions where natural harbors are absent. Political borders drawn during the 19th and 20th centuries, especially by the Soviet Union and British Empire, often left inland regions as separate states. For example, the Central Asian republics were shaped as Soviet socialist republics, none of which had access to the open ocean. Similarly, Nepal and Bhutan were never colonized but were landlocked due to their Himalayan location between India and China.
Economic and Trade Challenges
Being landlocked increases transport costs and delays. Landlocked countries must rely on transit agreements with neighbors to reach ports. For instance, Nepal depends on India for access to Kolkata and Haldia ports, while Laos uses Vietnam’s Da Nang and Thailand’s ports. The United Nations recognizes these challenges and has a special category: Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs). Of the 12 Asian landlocked states, 10 are classified as LLDCs (all except Armenia and Azerbaijan, which are considered developing but not in the LLDC list). These countries often face higher freight costs, longer transit times, and greater vulnerability to border closures.
How They Cope: Transit and Infrastructure
Many landlocked Asian countries invest in roads, railways, and pipelines to improve connectivity. China’s Belt and Road Initiative has built rail links through Central Asia, such as the China–Kazakhstan–Uzbekistan railway. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are developing the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, which uses the Caspian Sea and then railways through the Caucasus to reach European ports. Laos, with Chinese investment, opened the China–Laos railway in 2021, connecting Kunming to Vientiane, giving Laos a direct trade corridor to China and beyond. Mongolia has rail links to Russia and China, and its main export—coal—travels by rail to Chinese ports.
Strategic and Political Significance
Landlocked countries often become buffers or allies of their larger neighbors. Mongolia, for example, is a buffer state between Russia and China, and it has developed a “third neighbor” policy to engage with the US, Japan, and Europe to balance its two giant neighbors. Nepal and Bhutan are similarly positioned between India and China, with India traditionally controlling their transit routes. Central Asian states, rich in oil, gas, and minerals, are courted by Russia, China, and Western powers. Uzbekistan’s doubly landlocked status makes it particularly dependent on its neighbors’ goodwill for trade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Afghanistan landlocked?
Yes, Afghanistan is landlocked. It has no coastline and is bordered by Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China.
Does a country bordering the Caspian Sea count as landlocked?
Yes. The Caspian Sea is a closed inland body of water, not connected to the world’s oceans. Therefore, countries like Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan that border it are still considered landlocked.
Which is the largest landlocked country in Asia?
Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked country in Asia and the world’s largest landlocked country overall, with an area of about 2.7 million square kilometers.
Are there any landlocked countries in Southeast Asia?
Yes, Laos is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by Myanmar, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand.
Why is Uzbekistan doubly landlocked?
Uzbekistan is surrounded entirely by other landlocked countries: Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. To reach an ocean, goods must pass through at least two national borders.
How do landlocked countries get access to the sea?
They negotiate transit agreements with neighboring countries to use their ports. For example, Nepal uses Indian ports, Laos uses Vietnamese and Thai ports, and Kazakhstan uses Russian and Chinese ports. Some countries also build pipelines to transport oil and gas without crossing borders.
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