Which country is the largest doubly landlocked country by area?

Uzbekistan is the largest doubly landlocked country by area.

Uzbekistan covers about 448,900 square kilometres and is one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world. A doubly landlocked country is surrounded exclusively by countries that are themselves landlocked, meaning a traveller must cross at least two international borders to reach an ocean or an open sea. The other example is Liechtenstein, which is much smaller.

Uzbekistan’s neighbours are Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. None provides a direct route to an ocean. The Caspian Sea does not change the classification because it is an enclosed inland body of water rather than a sea connected directly to the world’s oceans.

Uzbekistan is often confused with Kazakhstan because Kazakhstan is much larger and borders the Caspian Sea. However, Kazakhstan is not doubly landlocked: it borders other countries that have maritime access through the Caspian system. Kyrgyzstan is also landlocked but is far smaller. Uzbekistan’s unusual geographic status is reinforced by its central position in arid Central Asia and its extensive Kyzylkum Desert.