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The challenges facing landlocked developing countriesDespite significant technological improvements in transport, landlocked countries in Africa and Asia continue to be less developed than countries that border the sea. While the poor economic performance of landlocked countries is often solely attributed to geographical distance from the coast, the situation is more complex. Landlocked countries must also face the challenges that result from their dependence on passage through Another Country to access global markets.
Research carried out by the Earth Institute at Columbia University and the United Nations Millennium Project attempts to understand the nature of these challenges. Based on data from a number of sources, the researchers highlight the relatively low development levels in landlocked developing countries and outline the problems they face.
Overall, landlocked countries have lower levels of human development and external trade compared with their maritime neighbours. Nearly all landlocked countries export between twelve and seventy per cent less than maritime countries. According to the Human Development Report (HDR) 2000, nine of the twelve countries with the lowest human development index ranking are land-locked. Average GDP per capita is approximately forty-three per cent lower, while life expectancy is three and a half years lower than their neighbours with access to the sea.
The authors argue that the relatively worse performance of landlocked countries is strongly related to their dependence on other countries' transit routes for access to overseas markets. They identify four issues that may inhibit the economic development of landlocked countries:
- Dependence upon transit neighbours' infrastructure to transport goods to port. This imposes direct costs on trade, particularly if the transit country's infrastructure is weak due to lack of resources, mis-governance, conflict or natural disasters.
- The political relationship between landlocked and transit countries. If the two are in conflict, whether military or diplomatic, the transit neighbour can easily block borders or obstruct trade.
- Vulnerability to civil conflict within transit countries. Civil conflict can damage or close transit routes, which often means that trade corridors have to be rerouted or even that transit is stopped.
- High administrative costs due to transit, associated with border crossings, heavy paperwork and bureaucratic procedures. These often add the greatest amount to shipping costs.
Strategies to improve the economic performance of landlocked countries should involve reducing their dependence on their transit neighbours. Measures should also be taken to reduce the risk of disruptions in trade flows. The authors recommend the following policy measures:
- Landlocked developing countries need to emphasise the development of their internal transportation infrastructure.
- Regional infrastructure integration strategies are needed to develop active trade routes and expand market access for landlocked countries. This includes investment in building and maintaining efficient ports to serve entire regions.
- Regional integration strategies (e.g. the Southern African Development Community) need to focus on administrative co-ordination to standardise border procedures and reduce transport costs.
- Landlocked countries need to invest, where possible, in developing industries that are less affected by transport costs.
In order to invest in all four of the above areas, official development assistance (ODA) to developing countries should give special attention to the unique needs of those that are landlocked. In particular, ODA should recognise the requirement for increases in assistance to support large-scale investments in roads and railways. Such investments need to include improvements in operations and maintenance as well as in transport infrastructure itself.
Source(s):
'The Challenges Facing Landlocked Developing Countries', Journal of Human Development 5(1), March 2004, 31-68 by Michael L. Faye, John W. McArthur, Jeffrey D. Sachs and Thomas Snow
What else can I help you with?
How are landlocked countries disadvantaged?
Landlocked countries may face economic challenges due to limited access to the sea, which can increase transportation costs and limit trade opportunities. They often rely on neighboring countries for access to ports and face potential political and logistical issues in transit.
What are the Problems of landlocked countries?
Landlocked countries face challenges in accessing global markets and trade routes, as they must rely on neighboring countries for sea access. This dependency can increase transportation costs and hinder economic development. Landlocked countries may also face difficulties in negotiating trade agreements and ensuring the efficient flow of goods across borders.
Why are landlocked countries at disadvantage compared to other countries?
Landlocked countries face challenges in accessing international markets and resources due to their lack of direct access to the sea. This can lead to higher transportation costs and difficulty in trading. Additionally, landlocked countries are often dependent on their neighbors for access to ports and infrastructure, which can be politically and economically risky.
What are the disadvantages of landlocked countries?
Landlocked countries face challenges related to trade and transportation, as they have limited access to sea ports and must rely on neighboring countries for access to international markets. This can lead to higher transportation costs and logistical barriers for imports and exports. Additionally, landlocked countries may face political and security issues related to their reliance on neighboring countries for access to the sea.
Which of the Mediterranean countries is landlocked?
There are no Mediterranean landlocked countries. The countries known as Mediterranean countries all touch the Mediterranean Sea, so none of them are landlocked.
How are landlocked countries disadvantaged?
Landlocked countries may face economic challenges due to limited access to the sea, which can increase transportation costs and limit trade opportunities. They often rely on neighboring countries for access to ports and face potential political and logistical issues in transit.
What are the Problems of landlocked countries?
Landlocked countries face challenges in accessing global markets and trade routes, as they must rely on neighboring countries for sea access. This dependency can increase transportation costs and hinder economic development. Landlocked countries may also face difficulties in negotiating trade agreements and ensuring the efficient flow of goods across borders.
Why are landlocked countries at disadvantage compared to other countries?
Landlocked countries face challenges in accessing international markets and resources due to their lack of direct access to the sea. This can lead to higher transportation costs and difficulty in trading. Additionally, landlocked countries are often dependent on their neighbors for access to ports and infrastructure, which can be politically and economically risky.
How many countries are landlocked ( have no access to the ocean)?
As of October 2023, there are 44 landlocked countries in the world. These nations are entirely surrounded by land and do not have direct access to the ocean. Some notable examples include Switzerland, Hungary, and Bolivia. Landlocked countries often face unique economic challenges due to their lack of maritime trade routes.
What are the disadvantages of landlocked countries?
Landlocked countries face challenges related to trade and transportation, as they have limited access to sea ports and must rely on neighboring countries for access to international markets. This can lead to higher transportation costs and logistical barriers for imports and exports. Additionally, landlocked countries may face political and security issues related to their reliance on neighboring countries for access to the sea.
Why is there no landlocked countries in north America?
There are no landlocked countries in north America because all countries (United States, Canada, and Mexico) in North America face water both towards the east and the west.
Which of the Mediterranean countries is landlocked?
There are no Mediterranean landlocked countries. The countries known as Mediterranean countries all touch the Mediterranean Sea, so none of them are landlocked.
How can being landlocked affect a country?
Being landlocked can limit a country's access to international trade, as it must rely on neighboring countries for ports and transportation. This can increase transportation costs and hinder economic growth. Landlocked countries also face challenges in terms of security and diplomacy, as they may have less leverage in negotiations with neighboring countries.
What does landlocked mean?
Landlocked refers to a geographical location that is surrounded by land and has no direct access to the ocean or any significant body of water. Countries that are landlocked may face challenges in terms of trade, transportation, and access to resources compared to countries with coastlines.
What are two landlocked countries that are surrounded by other landlocked countries?
Liechtenstein is a landlocked country surrounded by other landlocked countries: Switzerland and Austria. Similarly, San Marino is also a landlocked country surrounded by other landlocked countries: Italy.
Where is Tin and silver exported from landlocked?
Tin and silver are exported from landlocked countries through various means, such as using neighboring countries with access to ports for transportation. They can be transported by trucks, trains, or planes to reach ports for shipment overseas. This can add additional transportation costs and logistics challenges for landlocked countries exporting these minerals.
What are the two names of the two landlocked countries?
The two landlocked countries in South America are Bolivia and Paraguay. There are many landlocked countries in Africa, Asia, and Europe.
