Spratly Islands

Spratly Islands as the 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 34 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

Position8 38 N, 111 55 E
Arealess than 5 sq km
LocationSoutheastern Asia, group of reefs in the South China Sea,
1997

Every edition of Spratly Islands

Populationas each edition published it
Not in this edition 2,000 in 2000

Geography

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

18 fields

Land use

forests and woodland 0%other 100%arable land 0% in all · permanent crops 0% in all · permanent pastures 0% in all · irrigated 0 sq km (1993)
Coastline
926km
land boundaries: 0 kmMaritime claims: NA
Highest point
4m
unnamed location on Southwest Caylowest point: South China Sea 0 m

Location

Southeastern Asia, group of reefs 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 :
less than 5 sq km
land:
less than 5 sq km
water:
0 sq km

note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over the South China Sea

Climate

tropical

Natural resources

fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential

Natural hazards

typhoons; serious maritime hazard because of numerous reefs and shoals

Environment - international agreements

party to:
none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements

Geography - note

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

People

1 field

Population

no indigenous inhabitants note: there are scattered garrisons

Government

2 fields

Country name

conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Spratly Islands

Economy

Economic activity is limited to commercial | fishing.

2 fields

Economy - overview

Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing. The proximity to nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins suggests the potential for oil and gas deposits, but the region is largely unexplored, and there are no reliable estimates of potential reserves; commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.

Communications

5 fields

Telephone system

domestic:
NA
international:
NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA

Transportation

4 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m
2
total : 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1

Airports

4 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1996 est.)

Military

1 field

Military - note

about 50 small islands or reefs are occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam

Transnational Issues

1 field

Disputes - international

  • all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam;
  • parts of them are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines;
  • in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive economic zone, which encompasses Louisa Reef, but has not publicly claimed the island SRI LANKA

Central Intelligence Agency. “Spratly Islands.” The World Factbook 1997. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/spratly-islands/1997.

How to cite ← 1996 edition 1998 edition →