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A Legacy Resource, Recognized Worldwide

For 19 years, The African Gourmet has preserved Africa's stories through food, history, and folklore. Selected for expert consideration by the Library of Congress Web Archives, the world's premier guardian of cultural heritage, ensuring our digital timeline endures for generations.

Trusted by: Wikipedia • Emory University African Studies • University of Kansas • University of KwaZulu-Natal • MDPI Scholarly Journals.
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From political insights through food to traditional wisdom and modern solutions - explore Africa's depth.

Sixteen Landlocked African Countries — Facts, Sizes & Geography

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📁 Africa geography facts 📁 Africa without coastline 📁 Chad size 📁 landlocked African countries

Africa has the most countries of any continent — 54 in total — and 16 of these (about 30%) are landlocked, with no direct access to the sea.

Rwanda is the second smallest landlocked country in Africa

Sixteen Landlocked Countries Are in Africa Out of 49 Worldwide

Landlocked African Countries List

Landlocked countries are entirely surrounded by land, lacking a coastline on an ocean or sea (though they may have rivers and lakes). Globally there are 49; sixteen are in Africa:

Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Niger, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Largest Landlocked Countries in Africa by Area

Here’s how the 16 compare by size:

Chad — 495,755 sq mi
Niger — 489,191 sq mi
Mali — 478,767 sq mi
Ethiopia — 435,186 sq mi
Zambia — 290,586 sq mi
South Sudan — 248,777 sq mi
Central African Republic — 240,535 sq mi
Botswana — 231,804 sq mi
Zimbabwe — 150,804 sq mi
Burkina Faso — 105,869 sq mi
Uganda — 91,136 sq mi
Malawi — 45,745 sq mi
Lesotho — 11,720 sq mi
Burundi — 10,745 sq mi
Rwanda — 10,169 sq mi
Eswatini — 6,704 sq mi

Chad: Africa’s Largest Landlocked Country

At 495,755 square miles (about three times the size of California), Chad is Africa’s biggest landlocked nation. It has a sparse population — less than two people per square mile — yet is rich in gold and uranium.

Chad may be landlocked but it still features striking water systems like Lake Chad and the Gauthiot Falls. Many African landlocked countries have major rivers, lakes, or waterfalls despite lacking an ocean coast.

Quick Geography Facts

  • Nine of the world’s 25 largest countries by land area are African: Algeria, Angola, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Libya, Mali, Niger, South Africa, and Sudan.
  • The world’s largest landlocked country is Kazakhstan (almost four times the size of Texas).
  • The smallest landlocked country on Earth is Vatican City, an enclave inside Rome, Italy.

More to Explore

  1. Dangerous Erupting Volcanoes of Africa
  2. Top 20 Largest Countries in Africa
  3. What Is an African Proverb?
  4. African Water Spirit Mami Wata
  5. Percentage of White People Living in Africa

FAQ

What does landlocked mean?

A landlocked country is entirely surrounded by land with no coastline on an ocean or sea.

Which is Africa’s largest landlocked country?

Chad, at 495,755 square miles — about three times the size of California.

Can landlocked countries have lakes and rivers?

Yes. Being landlocked only means no sea access; many still have lakes, rivers, and even waterfalls.

Part of our African Geography Hub — discover how Africa’s land, people, and natural features shape its story.

The African Gourmet explores how African food, history, and science intertwine. Here, a plant is a healer, a story is a map, and the kitchen is a laboratory. I’m Ivy — a writer raised by historians, now sharing Africa’s wisdom from the U.S. through cookbooks, cultural research, and storytelling. If you’re curious about where flavor meets memory, you belong here.

Recipes Explain Politics

When Rice Recipes Become Revolution

What if your grandmother's rice recipe could explain the Liberian Rice Riots of 1979?

"In Liberia, rice isn't just food—it's life, identity, and sovereignty. When the government proposed raising rice prices in 1979, they weren't just adjusting economics; they were threatening every grandmother's ability to feed her family according to traditions passed down for generations."

The riot that followed wasn't about politics—it was about the sacred right to cook your family's rice recipe.

The Deeper Recipe

  • Ingredients: Colonial trade patterns + Urbanization + Economic inequality
  • Preparation: Political disconnect from daily survival needs
  • Serving: 40+ deaths, regime destabilization, and a warning about ignoring cultural fundamentals

This is African Gourmet analysis: understanding how the food in grandmother's pot connects to the protests in the streets. The recipes we inherit carry not just flavor, but the entire history of our political and economic struggles.

Read the Rice Riots Analysis → Try Liberian Rice Bread Recipe
Understanding Africa through the stories our food tells • Since 2006

Africa Worldwide: Top Reads

Africa × World: Editor's Picks

Cross-continental food, science, history, and cultural exchanges from the archive

African Gourmet FAQ

Archive Inquiries

Why "The African Gourmet" if you're an archive?

The name reflects our origin in 2006 as a culinary anthropology project. Over 18 years, we've evolved into a comprehensive digital archive preserving Africa's cultural narratives. "Gourmet" now signifies our curated approach to cultural preservation—each entry carefully selected and contextualized.

What distinguishes this archive from other cultural resources?

We maintain 18 years of continuous cultural documentation—a living timeline of African expression. Unlike static repositories, our archive connects historical traditions with contemporary developments, showing cultural evolution in real time.

How is content selected for the archive?

Our curation follows archival principles: significance, context, and enduring value. We preserve both foundational cultural elements and timely analyses, ensuring future generations understand Africa's complex cultural landscape.

What geographic scope does the archive cover?

The archive spans all 54 African nations, with particular attention to preserving underrepresented cultural narratives. Our mission is comprehensive cultural preservation across the entire continent.

Can researchers access the full archive?

Yes. As a digital archive, we're committed to accessibility. Our 18-year collection is fully searchable and organized for both public education and academic research.

How does this archive ensure cultural preservation?

Through consistent documentation since 2006, we've created an irreplaceable cultural record. Each entry is contextualized within broader African cultural frameworks, preserving not just content but meaning.