Paracel Islands Geography - 2023

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Location

Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in the South China Sea, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to the northern Philippines

Geographic coordinates

16 30 N, 112 00 E

Map references

Southeast Asia

Area

total: 8 sq km ca.

land: 7.75 sq km ca.

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

land area is about 13 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries

total: 0 km

Coastline

518 km

Maritime claims

N/A

Climate

tropical

Terrain

mostly low and flat

Elevation

highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m

lowest point: South China Sea 0 m

Natural resources

none

Land use

other: 100% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land

0 sq km (2022)

Population distribution

a population of over 1,000 Chinese resides on Woody Island, the largest of the Paracels; there are scattered Chinese garrisons on some other islands

Natural hazards

typhoons

Geography - note

composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group

NOTE: The information regarding Paracel Islands on this page is re-published from the 2023 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Paracel Islands 2023 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Paracel Islands 2023 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.