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
land: less than 5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over a large area of the central South China Sea

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%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100%

Irrigated land 0 sq km (1993)

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

Environment - current issues NA

Environment - international agreements
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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 1998 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Spratly Islands Geography 1998 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Spratly Islands Geography 1998 should be addressed to the CIA.