Spratly Islands Geography - 2023

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Location

Southeastern Asia, group of reefs and islands in the South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the southern Philippines

Geographic coordinates

8 38 N, 111 55 E

Map references

Southeast Asia

Area

total: 5 sq km less than

land: 5 sq km less than

water: 0 sq km

note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over an area of nearly 410,000 sq km (158,000 sq mi) of the central South China Sea

Area - comparative

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

Land boundaries

total: 0 km

Coastline

926 km

Maritime claims

N/A

Climate

tropical

Terrain

small, flat islands, islets, cays, and reefs

Elevation

highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 6 m

lowest point: South China Sea 0 m

Natural resources

fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential

Land use

other: 100% (2018 est.)

Natural hazards

typhoons; numerous reefs and shoals pose a serious maritime hazard

Geography - note

strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs

NOTE: The information regarding Spratly 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 Spratly Islands 2023 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Spratly Islands 2023 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.