Background: The Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs surrounded by rich fishing grounds - and potentially by gas and oil deposits. They are claimed in their entirety by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, while portions are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines. About 45 islands are occupied by relatively small numbers of military forces from China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Since 1985 Brunei has claimed a continental shelf that overlaps a southern reef but has not made any formal claim to the reef. Brunei claims an exclusive economic zone over this area.

Geographic coordinates: 8 38 N, 111 55 E

Map reference: Southeast Asia

Area
Total: note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over an area of nearly 410,000 km² (158,000 sq mi) of the central South China Sea
Note: less than
Land: 5 km²
Water: 0 km²
Rank: 251
Comparative: land area is about seven times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 926 km

Maritime claims: NA

Climate: tropical

Terrain: small, flat islands, islets, cays, and reefs

Elevation: 0 m
Note: lowest point: South China Sea

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

Land use
Agricultural land: 0% (2011 est.)
Forest: 0% (2011 est.)
Other: 100% (2011 est.)

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

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

Population
Note: no indigenous inhabitants: note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by military personnel of several claimant states

Environment
Current issues: China's use of dredged sand and coral to build artificial islands harms reef systems; illegal fishing practices indiscriminately harvest endangered species, including sea turtles and giant clams

Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Spratly Islands
Etymology: named after a British whaling captain Richard SPRATLY, who sighted Spratly Island in 1843; the name of the island eventually passed to the entire archipelago

Economy overview: Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing. The proximity to nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins indicate potential oil and gas deposits, but the region is largely unexplored. No reliable estimates of potential reserves are available. Commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.

Airports: 4 (2013)
Rank: 189
With paved runways total: 3 (2013)
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2 (2013)
With paved runways under 914 m: 1 (2013)
With unpaved runways total: 1 (2013)
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (2013)

Heliports: 3 (2013)

Ports and terminals: none; offshore anchorage only

Disputes international: all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China (including Taiwan) and Vietnamparts of them are claimed by Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippinesdespite no public territorial claim to Louisa Reef, Brunei implicitly lays claim by including it within the natural prolongation of its continental shelf and basis for a seabed median with Vietnamclaimants in November 2002 signed the 'Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea,' which has eased tensions but falls short of a legally binding 'code of conduct'in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands