Coastline Length (km) 2008
Coastline length in kilometers measures a country's coastal geography. Compare countries and explore interactive maps and rankings.
Interactive Map
Complete Data Rankings
Analysis: These countries represent the highest values in this dataset, showcasing significant scale and impact on global statistics.
- #215
Zimbabwe - #214
Zambia - #213
Eswatini - #212
Holy See - #211
Uzbekistan - #210
Burkina Faso - #209
Uganda - #208
Turkmenistan - #207
Tajikistan - #206
Switzerland
Context: These countries or territories have the lowest values, often due to geographic size, administrative status, or specific characteristics.
Analysis & Context
In 2008, Canada led the world in Coastline Length (km) with an extensive 202,080 km, while globally, the range spanned from 0 km to 202,080 km. The average coastline length across 200 countries was 3,795.44 km, providing a benchmark to understand the variance in coastal geography worldwide. This metric reveals not only geographical features but also potential economic and environmental implications.
Geographical Giants: The Lengthiest Coastlines
The sheer length of a country's coastline often reflects its geographical vastness and the complexity of its coastal features. Canada tops the list with its sprawling 202,080 km of coastline, a figure influenced by its numerous islands and indented shores, particularly in regions like British Columbia and the Arctic Archipelago. Indonesia, with 54,716 km, follows, benefiting from its archipelagic structure comprising over 17,000 islands, which significantly amplifies its coastline length. Similarly, Greenland, with 44,087 km, boasts an extensive coastline due to its massive ice-covered landmass and numerous fjords.
These countries showcase how natural geography, such as archipelagos and fjords, contribute to extensive coastlines. Such features not only shape the landscape but also influence climate, biodiversity, and human settlement patterns, offering both challenges and opportunities for economic activities like shipping, fishing, and tourism.
Zero Coastlines: Landlocked Nations
On the opposite end of the spectrum, countries like Zambia, Slovakia, and Eswatini have a coastline length of 0 km, as they are entirely landlocked. The lack of a coastline often impacts economic activities, limiting direct access to maritime trade routes and potentially increasing reliance on neighboring countries for port access. This geographical constraint can affect the economic growth and trade dynamics of these nations, necessitating robust regional partnerships and infrastructure development to facilitate trade.
For example, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein, small European countries, overcome their landlocked challenges by leveraging advanced infrastructure and strong economic ties within the European Union, highlighting how policy and regional cooperation can mitigate geographical limitations.
Stability and Shifts: Year-over-Year Coastline Changes
Analysis of year-over-year changes in coastline length reveals overall stability, with an average change of -0.49 km, representing a negligible -0.1%. Notably, Poland experienced the most significant decrease, with a reduction of 51 km, equating to a 10.4% drop. Similarly, Latvia saw a decrease of 33 km or 6.2%. These changes can often be attributed to natural factors such as erosion or sediment deposition, which gradually reshape coastlines.
Conversely, the top countries like Canada, Indonesia, and Greenland reported no change in coastline length, maintaining their extensive coastal features. This stability underscores the resilience of their natural geography despite potential environmental challenges.
Economic and Environmental Implications
The length of a coastline has profound implications for a country’s economic and environmental landscape. Countries with extensive coastlines, such as Japan (29,751 km) and Australia (25,760 km), often have vibrant maritime industries, including shipping, fishing, and tourism. These industries contribute significantly to national GDP and provide employment opportunities, enhancing economic resilience.
However, longer coastlines also pose environmental management challenges, including coastal erosion, habitat conservation, and the impacts of climate change, such as rising sea levels. Countries like Norway (25,148 km) and New Zealand (15,134 km) have developed comprehensive coastal management strategies to balance economic use with environmental protection, ensuring sustainable development.
Understanding these dynamics is crucial for policymakers and stakeholders as they navigate the complexities of coastal development and conservation, aiming to harness the benefits of coastal resources while mitigating potential risks.
Insights by country
Croatia
In 2008, Croatia ranked #21 globally with a coastline length of 5835 km. This extensive coastline is significantly longer than that of neighboring countries like Slovenia, which has only 46.6 km, highlighting Croatia's prominent position along the Adriatic Sea.
The country's coastline is a major driver of its tourism industry, attracting millions of visitors each year to its beautiful beaches and historical sites. Additionally, Croatia's unique geography, with numerous islands and inlets, contributes to its extensive coastal measurement.
Nauru
Nauru ranked #166 globally in 2008 with a coastline length of 30 km. This length is relatively short compared to Pacific island nations like Fiji, which boasts a coastline of over 1,100 km. Nauru's small land area and high population density limit its coastline, reflecting its unique geographic and demographic challenges, including reliance on phosphate mining and limited economic diversification.
Jamaica
In 2008, Jamaica ranked #78 globally with a coastline length of 1022 km. This length is significant compared to many Caribbean nations, reflecting Jamaica's extensive maritime territory. The island's coastline is influenced by its geographic location and topography, which includes numerous beaches and bays that are vital for tourism and fishing, two key sectors of the Jamaican economy.
Belarus
In 2008, Belarus ranked #180 globally with a coastline length of 0 km. This places it among the lowest in the world, significantly below many of its neighbors, such as Poland, which has a coastline of approximately 440 km. The absence of coastline is primarily due to Belarus being a landlocked country, surrounded by five other nations, which limits its access to maritime trade and influences its economic activities.
Turkmenistan
In 2008, Turkmenistan had a coastline length of 0 km, ranking #210 out of 215 countries. This absence of a coastline is stark compared to landlocked neighbors like Uzbekistan, which borders the Caspian Sea. The country's geography, predominantly inland and bordered by other landlocked nations, limits maritime access, impacting trade and economic activities reliant on shipping routes.
Benin
In 2008, Benin had a coastline length of 121 km, ranking #144 out of 215 countries. This coastline is relatively modest compared to regional neighbors, such as Nigeria, which boasts a significantly longer coastline. The length of Benin's coastline is influenced by its geographic positioning along the Gulf of Guinea, which supports local fishing industries and trade, but also limits extensive coastal development due to its short span.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
In 2008, Bosnia and Herzegovina had a coastline length of 20 km, ranking #169 out of 215 countries. This limited coastline is significantly shorter than many of its Mediterranean neighbors, which often have extensive coastal areas. The country's geographical position, with a small Adriatic Sea outlet, restricts its access to maritime trade routes, impacting its economic development and tourism potential.
Mayotte
In 2008, Mayotte had a coastline length of 185.2 km, ranking #132 out of 215 countries. This coastline is relatively extensive for a small island territory, particularly when compared to larger nations in the region, such as Madagascar, which has a significantly longer coastline. The unique geographic positioning of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, coupled with its volcanic origins, contributes to its diverse marine ecosystems and economic reliance on fishing and tourism.
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates ranked #68 globally with a coastline length of 1318 km in 2008. This extensive coastline is significantly longer than that of its neighbor, Saudi Arabia, which has a coastline of approximately 4,272 km, highlighting the UAE's strategic maritime position in the Persian Gulf. The UAE's coastline is a critical asset for its economy, facilitating trade and tourism, while its development policies have prioritized coastal infrastructure and real estate, further enhancing its appeal as a global hub.
Jordan
In 2008, Jordan had a coastline length of 26 km, ranking #167 out of 215 countries. This limited coastline is significantly shorter than many neighboring countries, such as Israel, which boasts a coastline of approximately 273 km. Jordan's coastline is primarily located along the Gulf of Aqaba, which is crucial for its tourism and trade, but the country's overall geographic constraints and landlocked areas restrict further expansion.
Data Source
CIA World Factbook
The World Factbook, also known as the CIA World Factbook, was a reference resource produced by the US Central Intelligence Agency between 1962 and 2026 with almanac-style information about the countries of the world. From 1971 it was not classified, and available to the public in print since 1975, initially by the CIA, and later the Government Publishing Office.
Visit Data SourceHistorical Data by Year
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