Page last updated on October 25, 2013

Location: Southeastern Asia, group of reefs and islands 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
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
country comparison to the world: 248
land: less than 5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over an area of nearly 410,000 sq km of the central South China Sea

Area - comparative:
NA

Land boundaries:
0 km
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]

Coastline:
926 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
NA

Climate:
tropical

Terrain:
flat

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - lowest point country ranks ]
highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m

Natural resources:
fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential

Land use:
arable land: 0%
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2011)

Irrigated land:
5,700 sq km (2006)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Natural hazards:
typhoons; numerous reefs and shoals pose a serious maritime hazard

Environment - current issues:
NA

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