# Countries that are totally landlocked by ONE other country **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 9, 2008, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countries-that-are-totally-landlocked-by-one-other-country/467199 "2008-10-09T17:56:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countries-that-are-totally-landlocked-by-one-other-country/467199/1 "2008-10-09T17:56:30Z")
Take for example, if somehow Tennesee became a country to its own. The only way for it to do any trade or be involved in anything foreign outside of the US would be to a) use US airspace b) Travel across US ground So basically, they have to ask permission from the SAME country every time. If they get in a war with the US, they may be in a fix. They can’t go to their other bordering neighbor in the interim. 1. Are there any? 2. Can the outside country effectively starve the inside country? I hope this is in the right place…there is a GQ, but my second question is kind of vague-ish. Thanks… (I make my 2-item lists with joy and elan and refuse to address the issue other than this sentence.) ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countries-that-are-totally-landlocked-by-one-other-country/467199/2 "2008-10-09T17:57:42Z")
[Lesotho](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesotho) is an enclave in South Africa. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countries-that-are-totally-landlocked-by-one-other-country/467199/3 "2008-10-09T17:58:00Z")
[Vatican City](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vatican_city) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countries-that-are-totally-landlocked-by-one-other-country/467199/4 "2008-10-09T17:59:06Z")
San Marino > **[San Marino](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Marino)** > > in Europe (agate grey)  –  \[Legend\] San Marino (/ˌsæn məˈriːnoʊ/ ⓘ SAN mə-REE-noh, .mw-parser-output .IPA-label-small{font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .infobox .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .navbox .IPA-label-small{font-size:100%}Italian: \[sam maˈriːno\]; Romagnol: San Maréin or San Maroin), officially the Republic of San Marino (Italian: Repubblica di San Marino) and also known as the Most Serene Republic of San Marino (Italian: Serenissima Rep... ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countries-that-are-totally-landlocked-by-one-other-country/467199/5 "2008-10-09T18:01:27Z")
Monaco (if you don’t count the Mediterranean) > **[Monaco - Wikitravel](https://wikitravel.org/en/Monaco)** > > Souvenir passport stamps are no longer issued by the Tourist Office due to reported issues by recipients who have experienced subsequent trouble at borders and with visa applications due to the presence of an "illegal" stamp. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countries-that-are-totally-landlocked-by-one-other-country/467199/6 "2008-10-09T18:02:49Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Monaco (if you don’t count the Mediterranean) > > [http://wikitravel.org/en/Monaco](http://wikitravel.org/en/Monaco) I thought it was technically just a principality, not an actual country? Not that I have any freakin’ clue what the difference is… ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countries-that-are-totally-landlocked-by-one-other-country/467199/7 "2008-10-09T18:04:38Z")
There is also [Swaziland](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swaziland)in South Africa. ETA: I fail, Mozambique boarders a portion of it. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countries-that-are-totally-landlocked-by-one-other-country/467199/8 "2008-10-09T18:06:09Z")
> **[Landlocked country](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landlocked_country#List_of_landlocked_countries)** > > A landlocked country is a country that does not have territory connected to an ocean or whose coastlines lie on endorheic basins. There are currently 44 landlocked countries and four landlocked de facto states. Kazakhstan is the world's largest landlocked country while Ethiopia is the world's most populous landlocked country. > In 1990, there were only 30 landlocked countries in the world, however the dissolutions of the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia; the breakup of Yugoslavia; the independence ... Lesotho, San Marino, and Vatican City are denoted by triple asterisks. Vatican City and San Marino are not likely to be “starved” by Italy. Lesotho is vulnerable to troubles in South Africa, and has parted ways with SA on notable issues, such as apartheid. On preview, Swaziland borders Mozambique. And on further preview, Monaco isn’t landlocked, since it borders the Med. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countries-that-are-totally-landlocked-by-one-other-country/467199/9 "2008-10-09T18:06:55Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > [Vatican City](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vatican_city) Missed the edit window, but meant to add: as to the second question, I think the history of West Berlin might be educational. [Airlifts](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Airlift#Berlin_airlift) and all that. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countries-that-are-totally-landlocked-by-one-other-country/467199/10 "2008-10-09T18:15:08Z")
Also of note are [Liechtenstein](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liechtenstein) and [Uzbekistan](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uzbekistan), which are the only doubly landlocked countries, i.e., landlocked countries surrounded by other landlocked countries. In order to get to a coast from these countries, one needs to cross at least _two_ borders. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countries-that-are-totally-landlocked-by-one-other-country/467199/11 "2008-10-09T18:34:55Z")
> [@bouv](#): > > I thought it was technically just a principality, not an actual country? > > Not that I have any freakin’ clue what the difference is… It’s an independent country. “Principality” just means it has a prince as head of state; it’s a type of country, like a kingdom or a republic. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countries-that-are-totally-landlocked-by-one-other-country/467199/12 "2008-10-09T18:35:46Z")
In addition to the Vatican City and San Marino, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta is a small country landlocked in Italy (its “territory” is a building in Rome). The United States doesn’t recognize the SMOM as a sovereign country but a number of other countries do. ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countries-that-are-totally-landlocked-by-one-other-country/467199/13 "2008-10-09T21:14:40Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > There is also [Swaziland](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swaziland)in South Africa. > ETA: I fail, Mozambique boarders a portion of it. I did a report on Swaziland back in school and it was totally surrounded by SA back then…either the maps were wrong or something has changed since. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countries-that-are-totally-landlocked-by-one-other-country/467199/14 "2008-10-09T21:17:17Z")
Tuva ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countries-that-are-totally-landlocked-by-one-other-country/467199/15 "2008-10-09T21:17:21Z")
> [@Critical1](#): > > I did a report on Swaziland back in school and it was totally surrounded by SA back then…either the maps were wrong or something has changed since. Interesting, because that is how I learned about Swaziland too. In elementary school the class divided up portions of africa and we did group reports on each section, and my section had Swaziland in it and I remember it bordering only S. Africa too. Wonder what happened? ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countries-that-are-totally-landlocked-by-one-other-country/467199/16 "2008-10-09T21:18:48Z")
Oops, I take it back, Tuva has borders with Russia and China. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stafford_cripps/32/7167_2.png) [@The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stafford_Cripps)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countries-that-are-totally-landlocked-by-one-other-country/467199/17 "2008-10-09T21:26:45Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > Interesting, because that is how I learned about Swaziland too. In elementary school the class divided up portions of africa and we did group reports on each section, and my section had Swaziland in it and I remember it bordering only S. Africa too. > > Wonder what happened? How old are you? I’m looking at a map from 1986 and Swaziland bordered Mozambique then. Mozambique obviously went through major turmoil when it stopped being part of Portugal in 1975, but I wasn’t aware of that altering its borders. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stafford_cripps/32/7167_2.png) [@The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stafford_Cripps)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countries-that-are-totally-landlocked-by-one-other-country/467199/18 "2008-10-09T21:29:27Z")
> [@ratatoskK](#): > > Oops, I take it back, Tuva has borders with Russia and China. Not only that, it is in fact part of the Russian Federation, so it’s not actually an independent country. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countries-that-are-totally-landlocked-by-one-other-country/467199/19 "2008-10-09T21:37:56Z")
> [@G. Odoreida](#): > > How old are you? I’m looking at a map from 1986 and Swaziland bordered Mozambique then. Mozambique obviously went through major turmoil when it stopped being part of Portugal in 1975, but I wasn’t aware of that altering its borders. It’s totally possible that I am misremembering or was working with out of date maps (4th grade was in 1991/2 for me.) I was chalking it up to bad memory until **Critical1** remembered the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2008, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countries-that-are-totally-landlocked-by-one-other-country/467199/20 "2008-10-09T23:25:50Z")
> [@Critical1](#): > > I did a report on Swaziland back in school and it was totally surrounded by SA back then…either the maps were wrong or something has changed since. Don’t know when you went to school, but Swaziland has had borders with both South Africa and Mozambique since at least 1914. > **[Map: Africa, Imperial Boundaries, 1914](http://www.fsmitha.com/h2/map02af.htm)** > > Map of Africa, 1914. Part of an online history of the 20th century As far as I know, it has had the same boundaries since its formation in the late 19th century. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/countries-that-are-totally-landlocked-by-one-other-country/467199.md?page=2)