The CIA World Factbook Edition 2003 Geography
Maritime claims In 36 editions of 36.
Maritime claims was published in 36 editions of the CIA World Factbook, from 1990 to 2025. The 2003 edition carries it in 263 entries, in its Geography section. Every entry is shown as that edition published it.
- entries in the 2003 edition
- 263
- the first edition with it
- 1990
- the latest edition with it
- 2025
Published as “Maritime claims” (1990 to 2025) and “Territorial sea” (1990).
the entry has the field in that editionnot in that editionthe open editionEach entry below ends in its editions with Maritime claims, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down; choose one in a row to read that edition’s text there.
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Entries with Maritime claims in each edition
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World
1 entryWorld
a variety of situations exist, but in general, most countries make the following claims: contiguous zone - 24 NM; continental shelf - 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation, or 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin; exclusive fishing zone - 200 NM; exclusive economic zone - 200 NM; territorial sea - 12 NM; boundary situations with neighboring states prevent many countries from extending their fishing or economic zones to a full 200 NM; 43 nations and other areas that are landlocked include Afghanistan, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Czech Republic, Ethiopia, Holy See (Vatican City), Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malawi, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Niger, Paraguay, Rwanda, San Marino, Slovakia, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tajikistan, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, West Bank, Zambia, Zimbabwe; two of these, Liechtenstein and Uzbekistan, are doubly landlocked
Africa
62 entriesCape Verde now Cabo Verde
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
Congo, Democratic Republic of the now Democratic Republic of the Congo
- exclusive economic zone:
- boundaries with neighbors
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
Egypt
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
Gambia, The now The Gambia
- contiguous zone:
- 18 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- not specified
- exclusive fishing zone:
- 200 NM
Ghana
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
Juan de Nova Island
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
Kenya
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
Madagascar
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM or 100 NM from the 2,500-m deep isobath
Mauritania
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
Mauritius
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
Morocco
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
Nigeria
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
Saint Helena now Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
- exclusive fishing zone:
- 200 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
Sao Tome and Principe
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
Senegal
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
Seychelles
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
Sierra Leone
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
South Africa
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM or to edge of the continental margin
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
Sudan
- contiguous zone:
- 18 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
Tromelin Island
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
Antarctic Region
5 entriesAntarctica
- none;
- 20 of 27 Antarctic consultative nations have made no claims to Antarctic territory (although Russia and the US have reserved the right to do so) and do not recognize the claims of the other nations;
- also see the Disputes - international entry
French Southern and Antarctic Lands
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM from Iles Kerguelen only
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
Arctic Region
4 entriesGreenland
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM or agreed boundaries or median line
- exclusive fishing zone:
- 200 NM or agreed boundaries or median line
- territorial sea:
- 3 NM
Iceland
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
Jan Mayen
- contiguous zone:
- 10 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
- territorial sea:
- 4 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
Svalbard
- exclusive fishing zone:
- 200 NM unilaterally claimed by Norway but not recognized by Russia
- territorial sea:
- 4 NM
Asia
23 entriesBangladesh
- contiguous zone:
- 18 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- up to the outer limits of the continental margin
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
China
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
India
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
Japan
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM; between 3 NM and 12 NM in the international straits - La Perouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and Eastern and Western Channels of the Korea or Tsushima Strait
Korea, North now North Korea
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
note: military boundary line 50 NM in the Sea of Japan and the exclusive economic zone limit in the Yellow Sea where all foreign vessels and aircraft without permission are banned
Korea, South now South Korea
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM; between 3 NM and 12 NM in the Korea Strait
- continental shelf:
- not specified
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
Maldives
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
Pakistan
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
Russia
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
Sri Lanka
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
Central America and the Caribbean
32 entriesAntigua and Barbuda
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
Belize
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM in the north, 3 NM in the south;
- note - from the mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, Belize's territorial sea is 3 NM;
- according to Belize's Maritime Areas Act, 1992, the purpose of this limitation is to provide a framework for the negotiation of a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala
Dominican Republic
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 6 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
Guatemala
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
Haiti
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- to depth of exploitation
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
Honduras
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- natural extension of territory or to 200 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
Jamaica
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM or to edge of the continental margin
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
Saint Kitts and Nevis
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
Saint Lucia
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM
Trinidad and Tobago
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM or to the outer edge of the continental margin
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
Europe
46 entriesBelgium
- continental shelf:
- median line with neighbors
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- median line with neighbors (extends about 68 km from coast)
Denmark
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
Estonia
- exclusive economic zone:
- limits fixed in coordination with neighboring states
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
Faroe Islands
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM or agreed boundaries or median line
- exclusive fishing zone:
- 200 NM or agreed boundaries or median line
- territorial sea:
- 3 NM
Finland
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
- exclusive fishing zone:
- 12 NM; extends to continental shelf boundary with Sweden
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM (in the Gulf of Finland - 3 NM)
France
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM (does not apply to the Mediterranean)
Germany
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
Latvia
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
Malta
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- exclusive fishing zone:
- 25 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Norway
- contiguous zone:
- 10 NM
- territorial sea:
- 4 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
Portugal
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
Romania
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
Spain
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM (applies only to the Atlantic Ocean)
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
Sweden
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
- exclusive economic zone:
- agreed boundaries or midlines
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM (adjustments made to return a portion of straits to high seas)
Ukraine
- continental shelf:
- 200-m or to the depth of exploitation
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
United Kingdom
- continental shelf:
- as defined in continental shelf orders or in accordance with agreed upon boundaries
- exclusive fishing zone:
- 200 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
Middle East
17 entriesBahrain
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- extending to boundaries to be determined
Gaza Strip
Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation
Iran
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- natural prolongation
- exclusive economic zone:
- bilateral agreements or median lines in the Persian Gulf
Qatar
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
Turkey now Turkiye
- exclusive economic zone:
- in Black Sea only: to the maritime boundary agreed upon with the former USSR
- territorial sea:
- 6 NM in the Aegean Sea; 12 NM in Black Sea and in Mediterranean Sea
United Arab Emirates
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
Yemen
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
North America
6 entriesCanada
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
Mexico
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
United States
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- continental shelf:
- not specified
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
Oceania
34 entriesAustralia
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
Cook Islands
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
Fiji
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; rectilinear shelf claim added
Micronesia, Federated States of now Federated States of Micronesia
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
New Zealand
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
Papua New Guinea
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
- exclusive fishing zone:
- 200 NM
Solomon Islands
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM
Tonga
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
Vanuatu
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
South America
14 entriesArgentina
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
Brazil
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM or to edge of the continental margin
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
Chile
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200/350 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
Colombia
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
Ecuador
- continental shelf:
- claims continental shelf between mainland and Galapagos Islands
- territorial sea:
- 200 NM
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM
- exclusive fishing zone:
- 200 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
Guyana
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM or to the outer edge of the continental margin
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
Uruguay
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
Venezuela
- contiguous zone:
- 15 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
Southeast Asia
19 entriesAshmore and Cartier Islands
- contiguous zone:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- exclusive fishing zone:
- 200 NM
Burma now Burma (Myanmar)
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
Cambodia
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
Indonesia
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
Malaysia
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; specified boundary in the South China Sea
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
Philippines
- continental shelf:
- to depth of exploitation
- territorial sea:
- irregular polygon extending up to 100 NM from coastline as defined by 1898 treaty;
- since late 1970s has also claimed polygonal-shaped area in South China Sea up to 285 NM in breadth
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
Singapore
- exclusive fishing zone:
- within and beyond territorial sea, as defined in treaties and practice
- territorial sea:
- 3 NM
Thailand
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
East Timor now Timor-Leste
- contiguous zone:
- NA NM
- extended fishing zone:
- NA NM
- territorial sea:
- NA NM
- exclusive fishing zone:
- NA NM
- continental shelf:
- NA NM
- exclusive economic zone:
- NA NM
Vietnam
- contiguous zone:
- 24 NM
- territorial sea:
- 12 NM
- continental shelf:
- 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 NM
Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook 2003, “Maritime claims”, all entries. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/fields/maritime-claims/2003.