Landlocked developing countries

The landlocked developing countries (LLDC) are developing countries that are landlocked.^[1] Due to the economic and other disadvantages suffered by such countries, the majority of landlocked countries are least developed countries (LDCs), with inhabitants of these countries occupying the bottom billion tier of the world's population in terms of poverty.^[2] Outside of Europe, there is not a single highly developed landlocked country as measured by the Human Development Index (HDI), and nine of the twelve countries with the lowest HDI scores are landlocked.^[3][4] Landlocked European countries are exceptions in terms of development outcomes due to their close integration with the regional European market.^[4] Landlocked countries that rely on transoceanic trade usually suffer a cost of trade that is double that of their maritime neighbours.^[5] Landlocked countries experience economic growth 6% less than non-landlocked countries, holding other variables constant.^[6]

32 out of the world's 44 landlocked countries, including all the landlocked countries in Africa, Asia, and South America, have been classified as the Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) by the United Nations. As of 2012, about 442.8 million people lived in these LLDCs.^[7]