Access to the sea is often an important factor for a country's geographical location and economic success. However, many countries around the world are deprived of this opportunity, and not everyone is fortunate enough. As shown in the infographic, 44 countries around the world do not have direct access to the sea. Additionally, Kosovo is designated separately.
Two of these countries, namely Liechtenstein and Uzbekistan, are surrounded by neighboring countries that do not have a seashore. In addition, some countries, such as Laos, although very close to the sea, are blocked from having access to their coast by their neighbors. Laos has 50 kilometers to go to the South China Sea, but three Vietnamese ports block its path.
In some countries, rivers are of great importance. Countries located within the continent, such as Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, and Serbia, have access to the Black Sea via the Danube River. These rivers provide an important transport route for their development.
At the same time, the absence of a seashore does not always hinder the development of the state. Although Luxembourg and Switzerland do not have access to the sea, they are among the richest countries in the world. Liechtenstein, although very small, ranks first in the world in terms of nominal gross domestic product (GDP) per capita.
As can be seen from these data, even landlocked countries can achieve high results in economic development if they make the right strategic decisions.
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