MCQ Detailed View

There are a total of 44 landlocked countries in the world. A landlocked country is defined as a sovereign state that is entirely enclosed by land, or whose only coastlines lie on closed seas without direct access to the open ocean. These countries do not have any territorial access to maritime coastlines, which can pose significant economic and logistical challenges.

Key facts about landlocked countries:

• Total number: 44 countries


• Continents most affected: Africa (16), Europe (13), Asia (12), South America (2), and Central America (1)


• Double landlocked countries: Liechtenstein and Uzbekistan


• Largest landlocked country: Kazakhstan


• Most populous landlocked country: Ethiopia

Many landlocked countries face difficulties in international trade because they must rely on neighboring coastal nations for access to seaports. This often increases transportation costs and affects export competitiveness. To manage this, many landlocked states enter into transit and trade agreements with nearby coastal countries to facilitate the movement of goods.

In Africa, nations like Chad, Niger, and Burkina Faso are landlocked and face additional development challenges due to limited infrastructure and higher dependency on cross-border logistics. In Europe, countries such as Austria, Switzerland, and Slovakia are landlocked but benefit from advanced transport systems and strong economic integration with the European Union.

Interestingly, two countries in the world are known as double landlocked, meaning they are surrounded entirely by other landlocked nations. These are Liechtenstein in Europe and Uzbekistan in Central Asia.

Understanding the number and geographical spread of landlocked countries is important for analyzing global trade routes, economic development, and regional cooperation. Despite their limitations, many of these countries have found ways to thrive through strategic partnerships and regional integration frameworks.