Which countries in Asia are landlocked?
Twelve Asian countries are landlocked: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Asia's 12 landlocked countries are Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Together they cover about 6.8 million km² and are home to about 182.6 million people.
They form two clusters. The larger, at the heart of the continent, takes in all five Central Asian states plus Afghanistan, Mongolia and the three South Caucasus states. The second is in the Himalayas and the Mekong basin: Nepal, Bhutan and Laos.
Asia's landlocked countries by area
| Country | Sub-region | Area (km²) | Population | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kazakhstan | Central Asia | 2,724,900 | 20,843,754 | World's largest landlocked country; Caspian coast |
| Mongolia | East Asia | 1,564,116 | 3,517,100 | Between Russia and China; world's second-largest landlocked country |
| Afghanistan | South Asia | 652,864 | 43,844,111 | Trade runs mainly through Pakistani and Iranian ports |
| Turkmenistan | Central Asia | 488,100 | 7,618,847 | Coast on the Caspian Sea |
| Uzbekistan | Central Asia | 448,978 | 37,053,428 | Doubly landlocked: all its neighbours are landlocked too |
| Laos | Southeast Asia | 236,800 | 7,873,046 | Only landlocked country in Southeast Asia |
| Kyrgyzstan | Central Asia | 199,951 | 7,295,034 | Mostly mountains of the Tian Shan |
| Nepal | South Asia | 147,516 | 29,618,118 | Between India and China; home to Everest |
| Tajikistan | Central Asia | 143,100 | 10,786,734 | Mostly mountains of the Pamirs |
| Azerbaijan | West Asia | 86,600 | 10,397,713 | Coast on the Caspian Sea, an inland sea |
| Bhutan | South Asia | 38,394 | 796,682 | Between India and China in the Himalayas |
| Armenia | West Asia | 29,743 | 2,952,365 | Between Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkey |
The Caspian Sea question
Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan all have long coastlines on the Caspian Sea, but it is the world's largest inland body of water with no natural link to the ocean, so they are still counted as landlocked. Ships can reach the Black Sea only through Russia's Volga–Don Canal.
Doubly landlocked Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; the other is Liechtenstein in Europe. Every one of its neighbours (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan) is itself landlocked, so its goods must cross at least two borders to reach a sea port.
The most populous landlocked country in Asia is Afghanistan, followed by Uzbekistan and Nepal. The least populous is Bhutan.
Area: total area including inland water, standard UN / national reference figures. Population: UN World Population Prospects 2024 (2025 estimates).
Related questions
Is Palestine landlocked?
Not entirely. The West Bank is landlocked, but the Gaza Strip has a coast on the Mediterranean, so Palestine is not usually counted as a landlocked country.
What is the largest landlocked country in the world?
Kazakhstan, at about 2,724,900 km². Mongolia, also in Asia, is the second largest.