Double landlocked countries are states with no ocean coastline whose every neighbor is also landlocked. Only two exist today: Liechtenstein (between Switzerland and Austria) and Uzbekistan (bordering Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan). This status shapes trade, transport, and diplomacy.
What “Double Landlocked” Means
To be double landlocked, a country must (1) lack any coastline on the world’s oceans and (2) share land borders only with countries that also lack ocean coasts. In other words, reaching the sea requires crossing at least two international borders. There are 44 landlocked countries overall, but only two are double landlocked.
Why does this classification exist? Because access to maritime trade remains crucial for costs and speed. Treaties try to level the field (more below), yet location still matters. The category highlights how geography, law, and infrastructure interact to shape a nation’s economic choices.
The Two Double Landlocked Countries, Explained
Liechtenstein
Where: Central Europe. Neighbors: Austria and Switzerland—both landlocked. The CIA World Factbook explicitly lists Liechtenstein’s coastline as “0 km (doubly landlocked).” Area is about 61.8 square miles (160 km²). Population ~40,023 (Dec 31, 2023 provisional).
Despite its tiny size, Liechtenstein is prosperous and integrated with Switzerland (customs and currency). Its double landlocked status is academic more than existential thanks to rail and road links through Switzerland to European seaports.
Uzbekistan
Where: Central Asia. Neighbors: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan—all landlocked (Turkmenistan borders the Caspian Sea, which is an inland, endorheic basin). CIA notes Uzbekistan is one of the two doubly landlocked countries. Area about 172,700 square miles (447,400 km²). Population 36.36 million (2024).
Uzbekistan’s rivers (like the Amu Darya and Syr Darya) drain internally and do not reach the ocean. Most cultivated land lies in valleys and oases. Reforms since 2017 have been opening the economy, with trade corridors via Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan connecting to global ports.
| Country | Area (sq mi / km²) | Population (latest) | Land Neighbors (all landlocked) | Typical Ocean Access (via) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liechtenstein | 61.8 / 160 | ≈40,023 (2023) | Austria, Switzerland | Swiss rail/road to North Sea or Mediterranean ports |
| Uzbekistan | 172,700 / 447,400 | 36,361,859 (2024) | Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan | Rail/road through Kazakhstan to Russian/Chinese ports; through Turkmenistan to Iran’s Gulf ports |
Sources: CIA World Factbook: Liechtenstein; CIA World Factbook: Uzbekistan; World Bank population data; Liechtenstein statistical office note (2023).
Why It Matters — Trade, Law, and Access to the Sea
International law recognizes special needs of landlocked countries. UNCLOS Article 125 codifies a right of access to and from the sea and freedom of transit through neighbors, to be arranged by agreement. The WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) adds practical rules to speed goods in transit.
Still, geography imposes costs. Research finds landlocked states face significantly higher transport costs, and infrastructure quality—both domestic and in transit states—can raise costs and reduce trade volumes by ~28% when it deteriorates from median to the 75th percentile. WTO reporting in 2024–2025 reiterates that LLDCs’ trade costs are about 1.4× those of coastal economies, underscoring why corridors and customs reform matter.
For practical illustrations, see the UN’s Almaty (2003) and Vienna (2014–24) Programmes of Action, and ongoing 2025 UN discussions to integrate LLDCs into global trade—policy roadmaps that encourage corridor development, harmonized procedures, and regional cooperation.
Geography Behind Double Landlock
Double landlock often appears in interior basins or where borders cluster away from coasts. Central Asia is a classic case: the Caspian Sea is an endorheic (closed) basin with no natural ocean outlet. Countries with coastlines only on the Caspian—such as Turkmenistan—are still counted as landlocked in sources like the CIA Factbook, which notes “0 km (landlocked)” for their ocean coastline.
Status can change. If a neighbor gains ocean access (via political change) or if a new transit treaty grants a sovereign corridor, a country might cease to be double landlocked in practical terms—even if formally landlocked. Conversely, state breakups can add borders that create a double landlocked case. These shifts show how geography and geopolitics intertwine.
Near Misses & Related Concepts
Many landlocked states are “one border away” from the sea because they touch at least one coastal neighbor (for example, Mongolia borders China and Russia; both have ocean coastlines). Others, like Lesotho, are enclaved by a single coastal neighbor (South Africa), so they are not double landlocked. The UN list of Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) highlights where challenges are most acute (a development, not a geography, category).
People sometimes ask about a “triple landlocked” country. None exist. Hypothetically, it would require being surrounded only by doubly landlocked states—something we do not observe today. The rarity of even two double landlocked countries hints at how unusual such patterns are.
FAQ
Which countries are double landlocked in 2025?
Liechtenstein (bordered by Austria and Switzerland) and Uzbekistan (bordered by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan). Both must cross at least two countries to reach the open ocean.
Are Caspian Sea coastlines “ocean access”?
No. The Caspian is a closed inland sea with no natural outlet to the world ocean, so Caspian littoral states are typically treated as landlocked for ocean access statistics and in the CIA Factbook.
How do double landlocked countries trade internationally?
Through rail and road corridors and ports in neighboring states, supported by UNCLOS Article 125 rights and WTO TFA transit procedures. Agreements and infrastructure quality determine real costs and speed.
How many landlocked countries exist overall?
Most counts list 44 landlocked countries (not including de facto entities), updated through 2024–2025.
What Did We Learn Today?
- Only two double landlocked countries exist: Liechtenstein and Uzbekistan.
- Double landlock means crossing two or more countries to reach the sea.
- Landlocked states face higher trade costs; reforms and corridors cut those costs.
- The Caspian Sea is endorheic, so its coasts do not provide ocean access.
- Global programs (Almaty, Vienna) and the WTO TFA support smoother transit.
