Two Landlocked Countries: Liechtenstein & Uzbekistan

Of the world's 44 landlocked countries, two stand out for being doubly landlocked — surrounded entirely by other landlocked countries:

1. Liechtenstein (Europe)

• Area: 160 km² (6th smallest)
• Population: ~39,000
• Neighbors: Switzerland (west), Austria (east) — both landlocked
• Access to sea: Via Rhine River (Switzerland) → North Sea; or Danube (Austria) → Black Sea. Both require transit through two sovereign territories.
• Economy: Financial services, high-tech manufacturing, tourism. GDP/capita ~$180K (among highest).

2. Uzbekistan (Central Asia)

• Area: 448,978 km² (56th largest)
• Population: ~35M (Central Asia's most populous)
• Neighbors: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan — all landlocked
• Access to sea: Requires crossing ≥2 borders: e.g., Kazakhstan → Russia → Arctic; or Turkmenistan → Iran → Persian Gulf; or Afghanistan → Pakistan → Arabian Sea.
• Economy: Cotton, gold, natural gas, uranium; transitioning from Soviet command economy.

Why Doubly Landlocked Matters

• Trade costs: Double transit fees, customs, border delays, infrastructure dependence.
• Geopolitical vulnerability: Subject to neighbors' relations with coastal states.
• UN Convention: UNCLOS Art. 125 grants right of access to/from sea — but implementation depends on neighbor cooperation.

Other Notable Landlocked Countries

Singly landlocked (42): Switzerland, Austria, Bolivia, Paraguay, Mongolia, Nepal, Bhutan, Laos, etc. Only two are doubly landlocked: Liechtenstein & Uzbekistan.

Historical Note

Uzbekistan became doubly landlocked only after 1991 Soviet collapse (previously USSR had coast). Liechtenstein has been doubly landlocked since 1806 (Holy Roman Empire dissolution → Confederation of the Rhine → Swiss/Austrian neighbors).