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Field Listing

Maritime claims

This entry includes the following claims, the definitions of which are excerpted from the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which alone contains the full and definitive descriptions:

territorial sea - the sovereignty of a coastal state extends beyond its land territory and internal waters to an adjacent belt of sea, described as the territorial sea in the UNCLOS (Part II); this sovereignty extends to the air space over the territorial sea as well as its underlying seabed and subsoil; every state has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles; the normal baseline for measuring the breadth of the territorial sea is the mean low-water line along the coast as marked on large-scale charts officially recognized by the coastal state; where the coasts of two states are opposite or adjacent to each other, neither state is entitled to extend its territorial sea beyond the median line, every point of which is equidistant from the nearest points on the baseline from which the territorial seas of both states are measured; the UNCLOS describes specific rules for archipelagic states.

contiguous zone - according to the UNCLOS (Article 33), this is a zone contiguous to a coastal state's territorial sea, over which it may exercise the control necessary to: prevent infringement of its customs, fiscal, immigration, or sanitary laws and regulations within its territory or territorial sea; punish infringement of the above laws and regulations committed within its territory or territorial sea; the contiguous zone may not extend beyond 24 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured (e.g., the US has claimed a 12-nautical mile contiguous zone in addition to its 12-nautical mile territorial sea); where the coasts of two states are opposite or adjacent to each other, neither state is entitled to extend its contiguous zone beyond the median line, every point of which is equidistant from the nearest points on the baseline from which the contiguous zone of both states are measured.

exclusive economic zone (EEZ) - the UNCLOS (Part V) defines the EEZ as a zone beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea in which a coastal state has: sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring and exploiting, conserving and managing the natural resources, whether living or non-living, of the waters superjacent to the seabed and of the seabed and its subsoil, and with regard to other activities for the economic exploitation and exploration of the zone, such as the production of energy from the water, currents, and winds; jurisdiction with regard to the establishment and use of artificial islands, installations, and structures; marine scientific research; the protection and preservation of the marine environment; the outer limit of the exclusive economic zone shall not exceed 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.

continental shelf - the UNCLOS (Article 76) defines the continental shelf of a coastal state as comprising the seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas that extend beyond its territorial sea throughout the natural prolongation of its land territory to the outer edge of the continental margin, or to a distance of 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured where the outer edge of the continental margin does not extend up to that distance; the continental margin comprises the submerged prolongation of the landmass of the coastal state, and consists of the seabed and subsoil of the shelf, the slope and the rise; wherever the continental margin extends beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline, coastal states may extend their claim to a distance not to exceed 350 nautical miles from the baseline or 100 nautical miles from the 2,500-meter isobath, which is a line connecting points of 2,500 meters in depth; it does not include the deep ocean floor with its oceanic ridges or the subsoil thereof.

exclusive fishing zone - while this term is not used in the UNCLOS, some states (e.g., the United Kingdom) have chosen not to claim an EEZ but rather to claim jurisdiction over the living resources off their coast; in such cases, the term exclusive fishing zone is often used; the breadth of this zone is normally the same as the EEZ or 200 nautical miles.

  • Afghanistan

    none (landlocked)

  • Albania

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

  • Algeria

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    exclusive fishing zone: 32-52 nm

  • American Samoa

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Andorra

    none (landlocked)

  • Angola

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Anguilla

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

    exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

  • Antarctica

    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 US have reserved the right to do so); also see the Disputes - international entry

  • Antigua 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

  • Argentina

    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

  • Armenia

    none (landlocked)

  • Aruba

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Ashmore 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

  • Australia

    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

  • Austria

    none (landlocked)

  • Azerbaijan

    none (landlocked)

  • Bahamas, The

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Bahrain

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined

  • Bangladesh

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 18 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

    continental shelf: to the outer limits of the continental margin

  • Barbados

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Belarus

    none (landlocked)

  • Belgium

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    exclusive economic zone: geographic coordinates define outer limit

    continental shelf: median line with neighbors

  • 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

  • Benin

    territorial sea: 200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim

    continental shelf: 200 nm

    exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

  • Bermuda

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

    exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

  • Bhutan

    none (landlocked)

  • Bolivia

    none (landlocked)

  • Bosnia and Herzegovina

    NA

  • Botswana

    none (landlocked)

  • Bouvet Island

    territorial sea: 4 nm

  • 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

  • British Indian Ocean Territory

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    Environment (Protection and Preservation) Zone: 200 nm

  • British Virgin Islands

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

  • Brunei

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line

  • Bulgaria

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Burkina Faso

    none (landlocked)

  • Burma

    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

  • Burundi

    none (landlocked)

  • Cabo Verde

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

    measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

  • Cambodia

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

    continental shelf: 200 nm

  • Cameroon

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

  • Canada

    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

  • Cayman Islands

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

    exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

  • Central African Republic

    none (landlocked)

  • Chad

    none (landlocked)

  • Chile

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

    continental shelf: 200/350 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

  • Christmas Island

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 12 nm

    exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

  • Clipperton Island

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Cocos (Keeling) Islands

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

  • Colombia

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

    continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

  • Comoros

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Congo, Democratic Republic of the

    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

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Cook Islands

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

    continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

  • Coral Sea Islands

    territorial sea: 3 nm

    exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

  • Costa Rica

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

    continental shelf: 200 nm

  • Cote d'Ivoire

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

    continental shelf: 200 nm

  • Croatia

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

  • Cuba

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Curacao

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Cyprus

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

  • Czechia

    none (landlocked)

  • 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

  • Djibouti

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Dominica

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    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

  • 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

  • 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

  • El Salvador

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Equatorial Guinea

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Eritrea

    territorial sea: 12 nm

  • Estonia

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: limits as agreed to by Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Russia

  • Eswatini

    none (landlocked)

  • Ethiopia

    none (landlocked)

  • Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    continental shelf: 200 nm

    exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

  • French Polynesia

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • 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

  • Gabon

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Gambia, The

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 18 nm

    continental shelf: extent not specified

    exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

  • 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

  • Georgia

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Germany

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

    continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

  • Ghana

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

    continental shelf: 200 nm

  • Gibraltar

    territorial sea: 3 nm

  • Greece

    territorial sea: 6 nm

    continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

  • Greenland

    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

  • Grenada

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Guam

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Guatemala

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

    continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

  • Guernsey

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm

  • Guinea

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Guinea-Bissau

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic 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

  • Haiti

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

    continental shelf: to depth of exploitation

  • Heard Island and McDonald Islands

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

  • Holy See (Vatican City)

    none (landlocked)

  • Honduras

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

    continental shelf: natural extension of territory or to 200 nm

  • Hong Kong

    territorial sea: 12 nm

  • Hungary

    none (landlocked)

  • Iceland

    territorial sea: 12 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

  • Indonesia

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

    measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines

  • 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

  • Iraq

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    continental shelf: not specified

  • Ireland

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

  • Isle of Man

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm

  • Israel

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    continental shelf: to depth of exploitation

  • Italy

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • Jersey

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm

  • Jordan

    territorial sea: 3 nm

  • Kazakhstan

    none (landlocked)

  • Kenya

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

    continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

  • Kiribati

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Korea, North

    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

    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

  • Kosovo

    none (landlocked)

  • Kuwait

    territorial sea: 12 nm

  • Kyrgyzstan

    none (landlocked)

  • Laos

    none (landlocked)

  • 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

  • Lebanon

    territorial sea: 12 nm

  • Lesotho

    none (landlocked)

  • 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

  • Liechtenstein

    none (landlocked)

  • Lithuania

    territorial sea: 12 nm

  • Luxembourg

    none (landlocked)

  • Macau

    not specified

  • 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

  • Malawi

    none (landlocked)

  • 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

  • Maldives

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

    measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines

  • Mali

    none (landlocked)

  • 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

  • Marshall Islands

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • 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

  • 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

  • Micronesia, Federated States of

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Moldova

    none (landlocked)

  • Monaco

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 12 nm

  • Mongolia

    none (landlocked)

  • Montenegro

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    continental shelf: defined by treaty

  • Montserrat

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

  • 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

  • Mozambique

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Namibia

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Nauru

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Navassa Island

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Nepal

    none (landlocked)

  • Netherlands

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

  • New Caledonia

    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

  • Nicaragua

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    continental shelf: natural prolongation

  • Niger

    none (landlocked)

  • Nigeria

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

    continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

  • Niue

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Norfolk Island

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

  • North Macedonia

    none (landlocked)

  • Northern Mariana Islands

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Norway

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 10 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

    continental shelf: 200 nm

  • Oman

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • 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

  • Palau

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

    continental shelf: 200 nm

  • Panama

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or edge of continental margin

  • 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

  • Paracel Islands

    NA

  • Paraguay

    none (landlocked)

  • Peru

    territorial sea: 200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

    continental shelf: 200 nm

  • 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

  • Pitcairn Islands

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Poland

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties

  • 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

  • Puerto Rico

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Qatar

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line

  • 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

  • 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

  • Rwanda

    none (landlocked)

  • Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

  • 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 Pierre and Miquelon

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

    continental shelf: 200 nm

  • Samoa

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • San Marino

    none (landlocked)

  • Sao Tome and Principe

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

    measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

  • Saudi Arabia

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 18 nm

    continental shelf: not specified

  • 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

  • Serbia

    none (landlocked)

  • 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

  • Singapore

    territorial sea: 3 nm

    exclusive fishing zone: within and beyond territorial sea, as defined in treaties and practice

  • Sint Maarten

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Slovakia

    none (landlocked)

  • Slovenia

    territorial sea: 12 nm

  • Solomon Islands

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

    continental shelf: 200 nm

    measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

  • 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

  • South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

  • South Sudan

    none (landlocked)

  • Spain

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (applies only to the Atlantic Ocean)

  • Spratly Islands

    NA

  • 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

  • Sudan

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 18 nm

    continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

  • Suriname

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Svalbard

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    continental shelf: extends to depth of exploitation

    exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

  • 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

  • Switzerland

    none (landlocked)

  • Syria

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

  • Taiwan

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Tajikistan

    none (landlocked)

  • Tanzania

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Thailand

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

    continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

  • Timor-Leste

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

  • Togo

    territorial sea: 30 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Tokelau

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Tonga

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

    continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

  • 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

  • Tunisia

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 12 nm

  • Turkey

    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

  • Turkmenistan

    none (landlocked)

  • Turks and Caicos Islands

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

  • Tuvalu

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Uganda

    none (landlocked)

  • Ukraine

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

    continental shelf: 200 m or to the depth of exploitation

  • 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

  • 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

  • United States

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    contiguous zone: 24 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

    continental shelf: not specified

  • United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 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

  • Uzbekistan

    none (doubly landlocked)

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • Virgin Islands

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Wake Island

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • Wallis and Futuna

    territorial sea: 12 nm

    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

  • West Bank

    none (landlocked)

  • World

    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

  • 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

  • Zambia

    none (landlocked)

  • Zimbabwe

    none (landlocked)