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The Only Two Countries Surrounded by Landlocked Countries

From Uzbekistan or Liechtenstein you have to cross at least two borders to reach the sea. Only these two countries are like that.

Strange countriesUzbekistan and LiechtensteinToday

Landlocked countries in black. The two doubly landlocked countries are in red: Uzbekistan, and Liechtenstein, too small to see at this scale.
Landlocked countries in black. The two doubly landlocked countries are in red: Uzbekistan, and Liechtenstein, too small to see at this scale. Man77, Public domain

A landlocked country has no coastline. A doubly landlocked country is surrounded only by countries that are landlocked too, so reaching the sea means crossing at least two borders.

There are only two in the world.

Uzbekistan, the larger, is surrounded by Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, none of which has an ocean coast.

Liechtenstein, the smaller, with an area of 160 square kilometres, sits in the Alps between Austria and Switzerland, both landlocked.

Evidence

  • Guinness World Records lists Uzbekistan as the largest of the world's two doubly landlocked countries, and Liechtenstein as the other.
  • All five of Uzbekistan's neighbours are landlocked; Liechtenstein's two neighbours, Austria and Switzerland, are landlocked.

Verdict

CONFIRMED

Backed by strong, verifiable evidence.

Confirmed by geography: only Uzbekistan and Liechtenstein are doubly landlocked.

Sources

Image credits

  • Landlocked and counter-landlocked countries.png. Man77, Public domain

Published 2026-10-25. Spotted an error? Email provenmysteries@gmail.com.

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