Sixteen Landlocked African Countries — Facts, Sizes & Geography

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.

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.