A landlocked country is one that does not have any coastline or direct access to an ocean. This geographical trait often brings political and economic challenges, such as limited access to vital maritime resources like fishing, oil, and gas. It also restricts opportunities for international trade, which are essential for growth and development. However, being landlocked can also provide some benefits. It can act as a natural barrier against cheap imports, helping to strengthen local industries and food systems.
The impact of being landlocked varies depending on a country's level of development, available trade routes, language, ease of business, and other factors. While some European landlocked nations are wealthy, many in Africa, Asia, and South America are still developing.
There are currently 44 landlocked countries worldwide, and this gallery highlights top ten largest by land area. Please find below;
1) Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked country in the world. The Central Asian country spans over a massive area of approximately 2.7 million square kilometers. It is surrounded by five countries: Russia in the north and west, China in the east, Kyrgyzstan in the southeast, Uzbekistan in the south, and Turkmenistan to the southwest. It is also the ninth-largest country in the world. Sources: (World Atlas) (World Population Review) (ThoughtCo)
2) Mongolia
Mongolia is the second-largest landlocked country in the world. It has a total area of approximately 1.6 million square kilometers. It is surrounded by Russia to the north and China to the south. Though it has a population of 3.5 million, it is the world’s most sparsely populated sovereign state, with almost half of the population living in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar.
3) Chad
Chad is the third-largest landlocked country in the world, and the fifth-largest country in Africa. It has a total area of approximately 1.3 million square kilometers. It has six neighboring countries: Libya in the north, Sudan in the east, Central African Republic in the south, Cameroon and Nigeria in the southwest, and Niger to the west. It has an exceptionally diverse culture with over 200 ethnic and linguistic groups.
4) Niger
Niger is a landlocked country in the Western part of Africa. It covers an area of approximately 1.27 million square kilometers, and is the second-largest landlocked country in Africa. It is bordered by Algeria in the northwest, Libya in the northeast, Chad in the east, Nigeria to the south, Benin and Burkina Faso to the southwest, and Mali to the west. The Sahara region covers almost 80% of the country.
5) Mali
A landlocked country in Africa, Mali is the eighth-largest country in Africa. It covers an area of approximately 1.2 million square kilometers. It is surrounded by a total of seven countries. To the north is Algeria, to the east is Niger, to the northwest is Mauritania, to the south are Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast, and Guinea and Senegal in the west.
6) Ethiopia
Ethiopia is located in the Horn of Africa region of East Africa. It covers a land area of approximately 1.1 million square kilometers. Ethiopia shares its borders with Eritrea in the north, Djibouti in the northeast, Somalia in the east, Kenya in the south, South Sudan in the west, and Sudan in the northwest. With a population of 132 million, it is the second-most populous African country, after Nigeria.
7) Bolivia
The landlocked country is located in the central region of South America. Covering an area of approximately 1.05 million square kilometers, it is the fifth largest country in South America.
It is surrounded by Brazil in the north and east, Paraguay in the southeast, Argentina in the south, Chile in the southwest, and Peru in the west. It has diverse geography with Andean plateaus, Amazonian plains, tropical lowlands, and mountain ranges.
8) Zambia
Zambia is located in the Southern part of Africa. A diverse country with abundant wildlife, arable land, wildlife, and freshwater, it covers a total area of approximately 752,600 square kilometers. It shares its borders with eight countries. These are the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the north, Tanzania in the northeast, Malawi in the east, Mozambique in the southeast, Zimbabwe and Botswana in the south, Namibia in the southwest, and Angola in the west.
9) Afghanistan
Afghanistan is located at the intersection of Central and South Asia. The country occupies a total area of approximately 652,864 square kilometers. It shares its borders with six countries. These are Pakistan in the east and south, Iran in the west, Turkmenistan in the northwest, Uzbekistan in the north, Tajikistan in the northeast, and China in the northeast and east.
10) Central African Republic
The Central African Republic is a landlocked country located in Central Africa. It covers an area of about approximately 620,000 square kilometers. It is home to more than 80 ethnic groups and is rich in natural resources such as uranium reserves, gold, diamonds, crude oil, and cobalt. It is surrounded by Chad to the north, Sudan to the northeast, South Sudan to the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the south, the Republic of the Congo to the southwest, and Cameroon to the west.
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