Liechtenstein and Uzbekistan are doubly landlocked.

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Short answer: Liechtenstein and Uzbekistan are the world’s only doubly landlocked countries. Reaching an open ocean from either country requires crossing at least two national borders.

What does doubly landlocked mean?

A landlocked country has no sovereign coastline on an open sea. A doubly landlocked country is surrounded entirely by other landlocked countries. Crossing one neighbour is therefore not enough: that neighbour also lacks ocean access, so at least one additional country must be crossed.

Why Liechtenstein qualifies

Liechtenstein lies in the Alps between Switzerland and Austria. Both neighbours are landlocked. Cargo heading to a major seaport must continue through another state—for example from Switzerland into Italy, France, Germany or the Netherlands, or from Austria through another coastal country.

Why Uzbekistan qualifies

Uzbekistan borders Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. Every one of those neighbours is landlocked under the open-ocean definition. Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan touch the Caspian Sea, but the Caspian is an enclosed inland body of water without a natural connection to the world ocean.

Why does the geography matter?

International freight may encounter several customs systems, rail gauges, road permits and transit agreements before reaching a seaport. Extra borders can add cost, time and uncertainty. The condition does not mean isolation—both countries trade extensively—but dependable cooperation with transit states becomes especially important.

Routes remain possible

Liechtenstein sits within a dense European transport network and shares a customs and monetary relationship with Switzerland. Uzbekistan has rail and road corridors pointing toward ports in the Baltic, Black Sea, Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean regions. Regional infrastructure projects can reduce journey time without changing the country’s landlocked status.

A quick comparison

Liechtenstein: two neighbours, both landlocked.
Uzbekistan: five neighbours, all landlocked.
Minimum national borders to ocean access: two.
Main logistical issue: dependence on transit infrastructure and agreements.

What about rivers and inland seas?

The definition is about a sovereign coast on the open ocean. Navigable rivers can support trade, and the Caspian is economically important, but neither changes the political classification. A shipment can travel by water for part of its journey while still needing to cross foreign territory before reaching an ocean port.

Evidence and limits

This is a description of current political geography, so the list could change if borders or sovereign arrangements changed. The United Nations Office of the High Representative for Landlocked Developing Countries explicitly identifies Uzbekistan as one of only two doubly landlocked countries; the other is Liechtenstein.