Countries Bordering the Caspian Sea

The Caspian Sea is the world’s largest inland body of water (371,000 km²). It is bordered by five littoral states, spanning the Europe-Asia boundary:

Key Points

• Not a “Sea” Legally: 2018 Convention on Legal Status defines it as a lake with special maritime rules; seabed divided, surface shared.
• Resources: Vast oil/gas (Kashagan, Tengiz), sturgeon (caviar—90% wild source).
• Environmental Stress: Level fluctuations, pollution, invasive species (Mnemiopsis), biodiversity loss.
• No Asian-Only Borders: All five are transcontinental or straddle Europe/Asia; the premise “Asian nations only” is inaccurate.

The Caspian’s unique legal and ecological status makes cooperative management essential.