The CIA World Factbook Edition 2022 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 2022 edition carries it in 250 entries, in its Geography section. Every entry is shown as that edition published it.
- entries in the 2022 edition
- 250
- 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 measured from the mean low-tide baseline as described in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea: territorial sea - 12 nm, contiguous zone - 24 nm, and exclusive economic zone - 200 nm;
- additional zones provide for exploitation of continental shelf resources and an exclusive fishing zone;
- boundary situations with neighboring states prevent many countries from extending their fishing or economic zones to a full 200 nm
Africa
55 entriesBenin
- territorial sea:
- 200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm
- exclusive fishing zone:
- 200 nm
Cabo Verde
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
Congo, Democratic Republic of the now Democratic Republic of the Congo
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- since 2011, the DRC has had a Common Interest Zone agreement with Angola for the mutual development of off-shore resources
Congo, Republic of the now Republic of the Congo
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
Egypt
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm or the equidistant median line with Cyprus
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm
Gambia, The now The Gambia
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 18 nm
- continental shelf:
- extent not specified
- exclusive fishing zone:
- 200 nm
Ghana
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm
Kenya
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Liberia
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm
Libya
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- exclusive fishing zone:
- 62 nm
note: Gulf of Sidra closing line - 32 degrees, 30 minutes north
Madagascar
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m isobath
Mauritania
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Mauritius
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
Morocco
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Nigeria
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Sao Tome and Principe
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
Senegal
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Seychelles
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Sierra Leone
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm
Somalia
- territorial sea:
- 200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
South Africa
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin
Sudan
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 18 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Togo
- territorial sea:
- 30 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
Antarctic Region
5 entriesAntarctica
- Australia, Chile, and Argentina claim Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) rights or similar over 200 nm extensions seaward from their continental claims, but like the claims themselves, these zones are not accepted by other countries;
- 22 of 29 Antarctic Treaty consultative parties have made no claims to Antarctic territory, although Russia and the United States have reserved the right to do so, and no country can make a new claim;
- also see the Disputes - international entry
French Southern and Antarctic Lands
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm from Iles Kerguelen and Iles Eparses (does not include the rest of French Southern and Antarctic Lands);
- Juan de Nova Island and Tromelin Island claim a continental shelf of 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands now South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- exclusive fishing zone:
- 200 nm
Arctic Region
4 entriesGreenland
- territorial sea:
- 3 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
- exclusive fishing zone:
- 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
Iceland
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Jan Mayen
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Svalbard
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- continental shelf:
- extends to depth of exploitation
- exclusive fishing zone:
- 200 nm
Asia
23 entriesBangladesh
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 18 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- to the outer limits of the continental margin
British Indian Ocean Territory
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- Environment (Protection and Preservation) Zone:
- 200 nm
China
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
India
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Japan
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the international straits - La Perouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and the Korea and Tsushima Straits
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
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
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the Korea Strait
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- not specified
Maldives
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
Pakistan
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Russia
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Sri Lanka
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Central America and the Caribbean
31 entriesAntigua and Barbuda
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Belize
- 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 negotiating a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
Dominican Republic
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
Guatemala
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Haiti
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- to depth of exploitation
Honduras
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- natural extension of territory or to 200 nm
Jamaica
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
200 nm or to edge of the continental margin
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
Panama
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm or edge of continental margin
Saint Kitts and Nevis
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Saint Lucia
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm
Trinidad and Tobago
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
Europe
48 entriesBelgium
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- geographic coordinates define outer limit
- continental shelf:
- median line with neighbors
Denmark
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Estonia
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- limits as agreed to by Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Russia
Faroe Islands
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
- exclusive fishing zone:
- 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
Finland
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland - 3 nm)
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
- exclusive fishing zone:
- 12 nm; extends to continental shelf boundary with Sweden, Estonia, and Russia
France
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm (does not apply to the Mediterranean Sea)
- continental shelf:
- 200m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Germany
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Latvia
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- limits as agreed to by Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Russia
- continental shelf:
- 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Malta
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
- exclusive fishing zone:
- 25 nm
Norway
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 10 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm
Portugal
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Romania
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Spain
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm (applies only to the Atlantic Ocean)
Sweden
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm (adjustments made to return a portion of straits to high seas)
- exclusive economic zone:
- agreed boundaries or midlines
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Ukraine
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 m or to the depth of exploitation
United Kingdom
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- continental shelf:
- as defined in continental shelf orders or in accordance with agreed upon boundaries
- exclusive fishing zone:
- 200 nm
Middle East
17 entriesBahrain
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- continental shelf:
- extending to boundaries to be determined
Cyprus
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Gaza Strip
- see entry for Israel note:
- effective 3 January 2009, the Gaza maritime area is closed to all maritime traffic and is under blockade imposed by Israeli Navy until further notice
Iran
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- bilateral agreements or median lines in the Persian Gulf
- continental shelf:
- natural prolongation
Qatar
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line
Turkey (Turkiye) now Turkiye
- territorial sea:
- 6 nm in the Aegean Sea
- exclusive economic zone:
in Black Sea only: to the maritime boundary agreed upon with the former USSR
12 nm in Black Sea and in Mediterranean Sea
United Arab Emirates
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Yemen
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
North America
6 entriesCanada
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Mexico
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
United States
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- not specified
Oceania
28 entriesAustralia
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Cook Islands
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Fiji
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
Micronesia, Federated States of now Federated States of Micronesia
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
New Zealand
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Palau
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm
Papua New Guinea
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
- exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
Solomon Islands
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
200 nm
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
Tonga
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Vanuatu
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
South America
13 entriesArgentina
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Brazil
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin
Chile
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200/350 nm
Colombia
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Ecuador
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm
note: Ecuador has declared its right to extend its continental shelf to 350 nm measured from the baselines of the Galapagos Archipelago
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm
- exclusive fishing zone:
- 200 nm
Guyana
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin
Peru
- territorial sea:
- 200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm
Uruguay
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm or the edge of continental margin
Venezuela
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 15 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Southeast Asia
19 entriesAshmore and Cartier Islands
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
- exclusive fishing zone:
- 200 nm
Burma now Burma (Myanmar)
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Cambodia
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm
Indonesia
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
Malaysia
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; specified boundary in the South China Sea
Philippines
- 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 as wide as 285 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- to the depth of exploitation
Singapore
- territorial sea:
- 3 nm
- exclusive fishing zone:
- within and beyond territorial sea, as defined in treaties and practice
Thailand
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Vietnam
- territorial sea:
- 12 nm
- contiguous zone:
- 24 nm
- exclusive economic zone:
- 200 nm
- continental shelf:
- 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook 2022, “Maritime claims”, all entries. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/fields/maritime-claims/2022.