Countries by Coastline 2023

Coastline is defined as the boundary where land meets the water and is often known as shoreline or seashore. It is created by waves crashing onto the shore, eroding the land. Coastlines hold great economic, military and cultural importance to a country.

The following is a list of the top ten countries with the longest coastlines in the world.

10) China - 14,500 Km/9,009 Miles

China has coastline on the Yellow Sea, South China Sea, and East China Sea. The coast runs north and south, from the Bo Hai Gulf in the north to the Gulf of Tonkin in the south. The northern part of the coast is mostly lowlands, however there are some hill and mountainous areas. In the south, the coastline contains rocky areas, hills, mountains and river deltas.

9) New Zealand - 15,134 Km/9,404 Miles

New Zealand has over 15,000 km of coastline bordering the Pacific Ocean and the Tasmanian Sea. The coastline varies widely from steep cliffs, headlands and fjords. There are also reserves established on and around the coastal areas to protect the diverse range of flora and fauna that call New Zealand home.

8) United States - 19,924 Km/12,380 Miles

The United States of America is comprised of 50 states and several territories. The country has coasts on the Atlantic Ocean in the east and the Pacific Ocean in the west. It also shares coastline with the Arctic Ocean north of Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico in the south. 23 states have their own coastline for a total of about 19,924 Km of coastline.

7) Australia - 25,760 Km/16,007 Miles

Australia is surrounded completely by water and has a total of 25,760 km of coastline. The Australian coastline is varied and features a wide range of land formations including caves, coves, over 10,000 beaches. The world’s largest coral reef system, The Great Barrier Reef, is located off the eastern coast of Australia.

6) Japan - 29,751 Km/18,486 Miles

Japan is a technologically advanced island nation off the eastern coast of Asia and lies between the Sea of Japan, the Sea of Okhotsk and the East China Sea. Japan consists of over 6000 islands, however, most of them are uninhabited. Many of Japan’s major population centers are located along the coastline as well as some of the largest international ports. Much of Japan’s population is supported by fishing, whaling and aquaculture and is based on Japan’s coastline.

5) Philippines - 36,289 Km/22,549 Miles

The Philippines is an island nation located off the coast of Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. The coast of the islands contain countless gulfs, bays and islets. About 60% of the population of the Philippines is located along the coastline, as are most of its larger cities and population centers. A larger percentage of the population depends on fishing activities for their livelihood and about 60% of the fish caught are caught along the coast.

4) Russia - 37,653 Km/ 23,396 Miles

Russia is a large country in northern Eurasia and has a large coastline over 37,000 km long. Russia’s coastline borders the Arctic Ocean in the North, the Atlantic ocean in the west and the Pacific in the east. In the south, Russia has coastline on the Baltic, Caspian and Black Seas. A number of Russia’s population centers and major cities are located along the shores of the country including St. Petersburg, Yalta and Vladivostok.

3) Norway - 58,133 Km/36,122 Miles

Norway is located in the western part of Scandinavia and has over 58,000 km of coastline. The majority of the coastline borders the North Atlantic Ocean and the Barents Sea. Norway’s coastline is notable for its rugged, irregular shape. One of the most famous features of Norway’s coastline is the numerous fjords. A large population of Norway is located along the coastline, including the capital city of Oslo.

2) Indonesia - 99,083 Km/61,567 Miles

While Indonesia may not be large in terms of landmass, the large number of islands that make up the country qualify it to rank second on the list of largest coastlines. At over 99,000 km long, Indonesia’s coastline features a wide variety of landscapes, both natural and man-made. Some of the country's most popular destinations are located on the coastlines of the islands of Java and Sumatra.

1) Canada - 202,080 Km/125,567 Miles

Canada is the second largest country in the world in terms of total area and has the longest coastline of any country in the world. At over 202,000 Km long, Canada’s coastline borders the Pacific Ocean in the west, the Arctic Ocean in the north and the Atlantic Ocean in the east. With the exception of tropical and subtropical ecosystems like mangrove swamps and coral reefs, Canada features most coastline types that are present elsewhere in the world.