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. China, Taiwan, and Vietnam all claim the islands in their entirety, while portions are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines. Around 70 disputed islets and reefs in the Spratly Islands are occupied by 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.

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

Land boundaries
Total: 0 km

Coastline: 926 km

Climate: tropical

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

Elevation
Highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 6 m
Lowest point: South China Sea 0 m

Land use
Other: 100% (2018 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
Total: no permanent inhabitants
Note: scattered garrisons are occupied by military personnel of several claimant states