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
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
water: 0 sq km
land: less than 5 sq km

Area - comparative NA

Land boundaries 0 km

Coastline 926 km

Maritime claims NA

Climate tropical

Terrain flat

Elevation extremes
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m

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

Land use
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land 0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards typhoons; serious maritime hazard because of numerous reefs and shoals

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

NOTE: The information regarding Spratly Islands on this page is re-published from the 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Spratly Islands Geography 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Spratly Islands Geography 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.