Spratly Islands
Spratly Islands as the 1990 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 19 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
12 fieldsTotal area
- less than 5 km2;
- land area: less than 5 km2;
- includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over the South China Sea
Disputes
China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam claim all or part of the Spratly Islands
Note
strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; serious navigational hazard
People
1 fieldGovernment
1 fieldEconomy
Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing and phosphate mining.
2 fieldsOverview
Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing and phosphate mining. Geological surveys carried out several years ago suggest that substantial reserves of oil and natural gas may lie beneath the islands; commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.
Communications
2 fieldsDefense Forces
1 fieldNote
approximately 50 small islands or reefs are occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Spratly Islands.” The World Factbook 1990. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/spratly-islands/1990.