Ruth Haines
Believe it or not, there are countries in the world without airports. While air travel has become a symbol of economic and social progress, with advantages in speed, distance, and connections, there are a handful of nations that have no airports within their boundaries. These countries have overcome geographical limitations by mastering the art of resource sharing with their neighbours, relying on alternative forms of transportation, and in some cases, simply having no room for an airport. So, which country or countries have the fewest airports?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Countries with the fewest airports | Monaco, San Marino, Andorra, Liechtenstein, and the Vatican City |
| Number of countries with no airports | 5 |
| Number of non-self-governing territories with no airports | 2 |
| Territories with no airports | Tokelau and the Pitcairn Islands |
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What You'll Learn
Five countries with no airports
There are five countries that do not have airports within their boundaries. All of these countries are located in Europe and are small in size. Here is some information about these five countries:
Monaco
Monaco is a small country with an area of 2 km2 and a population of less than 40,000. It does not have an airport due to its limited space. Visitors can fly to the nearby Nice Côte d'Azur International Airport in France and then travel to Monaco by car, bus, or helicopter.
San Marino
San Marino is the oldest state in the world and is completely surrounded by Italy. It does not have access to the sea and is quite small in size. The closest airport is in Rimini, Italy, just 16 km away. However, locals and tourists also use the airports in Bologna, Florence, Pisa, and Venice.
Andorra
Andorra is the largest country on the list that lacks an airport. It is landlocked between Spain and France and has an area of 468 km2. The country is surrounded by the Pyrenees Mountains, with peaks close to 3,000 meters, making it challenging to build an airport. The closest major airports are Barcelona–El Prat in Spain and Toulouse in France.
Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein is a landlocked country between Switzerland and Austria. Its small size and mountainous terrain make it challenging to accommodate an airport. The closest major airport is Zurich Airport in Switzerland, 130 km away. Liechtenstein has one heliport in Balzers.
Vatican City
Vatican City is the smallest country in the world, with an area of just 0.44 km2 and a population of around 800 people. It is located in the centre of Rome and does not have any airports or highways. Visitors can access Vatican City through nearby airports in Rome, such as Ciampino and Fiumicino, which are less than 30 minutes away by train.
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Smallest countries without airports
There are five countries without airports, and they are all European microstates. These countries are:
Monaco
The second-smallest country in the world, with an area of 2.02 square kilometres (0.78 square miles) and a population of 36,371, Monaco is surrounded on three sides by France and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. While it does not have an airport, it does have a heliport in the district of Fontvieille. The closest airport is the Côte d’Azur Airport in Nice, France, which is 30 minutes away by car.
San Marino
San Marino is a landlocked microstate surrounded by Italy on all sides. It is about 61 square kilometres (24 square miles) in area and has a population of over 30,000. While it does not have an airport, the closest one is the Federico Fellini International Airport in Rimini, Italy, just 16 km away. Other nearby airports include Bologna, Florence, Pisa, and Venice, which are commonly used by locals and tourists.
Andorra
The Principality of Andorra is landlocked between Spain and France and is the largest country on this list, with an area of 468 square kilometres (181 square miles). It has a population of 85,000 as of 2012. The closest major airports are Barcelona–El Prat in Spain and Toulouse in France. Andorra's mountainous terrain, surrounded by the Pyrenees, makes it challenging to build an airport.
Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein is a small country with an area of 160 square kilometres and a population of close to 40,000. Its landscape consists of high hills and low mountains, with limited flat land. Due to its geographical constraints, building an airport would likely require encroaching on neighbouring countries like Switzerland to the east and Austria to the west.
Vatican City
Vatican City is the smallest country in the world, with an area of just 0.44 square kilometres and a population of 800. It is located within Rome, Italy, and access is almost exclusively on foot. While it does not have an airport, nearby airports include Fiumicino and Ciampino, less than 30 minutes away by train. Vatican City has rail links with Pisa, Naples, and Florence.
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Countries with no airports but heliports
While there are several countries with the fewest airports, there are only five independent states with no airports within their boundaries. These are the European microstates of Monaco, San Marino, Andorra, Liechtenstein, and the Vatican. All of these countries have at least one heliport, except for Monaco.
Monaco
The Principality of Monaco is a small country with a population of fewer than 40,000 people and an area of 2 km2. It has an agreement with the neighbouring city of Nice, which is 30 minutes away by car and slightly over five minutes by helicopter. The closest airports to Monaco include Nice Côte d'Azur International Airport, Genoa Airport, and Turin Airport.
San Marino
San Marino is a small nation nestled in the Apennine Mountains and completely surrounded by Italy. It does not have its own airport but has a heliport. The closest airports include Rimini, Bologna, Florence, Pisa, and Venice, which are often used by locals and tourists.
Andorra
Andorra, a sovereign microstate in the Pyrenees Mountains, is landlocked and bordered by France and Spain. While it does not have any airports for fixed-wing aircraft, it has three heliports that offer commercial helicopter services. There is also an airport located just 8 miles south of the Andorran-Spanish border.
Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein is a microstate located in the Alps between Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It does not have an airport but has a heliport in the southern town of Balzers. The closest airports with limited scheduled flights include St. Gallen–Altenrhein Airport in Switzerland and Friedrichshafen Airport in Germany.
Vatican City
Vatican City is the smallest country in the world, with an area of just 0.44 km2 and a population of 800. It is located in the centre of Rome and has a heliport in its western corner, serving visiting dignitaries and officials. The closest airports include Ciampino–G (Rome's secondary international airport) and Fiumicino. It also has rail links to nearby cities such as Pisa, Naples, and Florence.
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Countries with airports nearby
There are several countries that do not have airports within their boundaries. However, many of these countries are located near airports in neighbouring countries. Here are some countries with airports in close proximity:
Monaco
The Principality of Monaco is a small country with an area of just 2 km2 and a population of less than 40,000. While Monaco does not have its own airport, it has an agreement with the nearby city of Nice, France. The Nice Côte d'Azur International Airport is located just 30 minutes away from Monaco by car and offers connections to over 86 countries.
San Marino
San Marino is the oldest state in the world and is completely surrounded by Italy. It does not have its own airport due to its small size, with a perimeter of less than 40 km. However, San Marino is well-connected to several nearby airports in Italy, including Rimini, Bologna, Florence, Pisa, and Venice. The closest airport, Rimini, is just 16 km away.
Andorra
The Principality of Andorra is located between Spain and France and is surrounded by the Pyrenees mountains. While Andorra does not have its own airport, it is accessible via the airports in neighbouring countries. The closest airport is located in the French municipality of Perpignan, about 150 km away from Andorra.
Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein is a small country located in Central Europe, between Switzerland and Austria. It is one of the few countries in the world that does not have its own airport. However, Liechtenstein is easily accessible through nearby airports in Switzerland and Austria, such as Zurich Airport and Innsbruck Airport.
Vatican City
Vatican City is the world's smallest country, with an area of just 0.44 km2 and a population of around 800. It is located in the centre of Rome and does not have its own airport. However, Vatican City is surrounded by several airports in Italy, including Fiumicino and Ciampino, which are less than 30 minutes away by train. It also has rail links to other major Italian cities such as Pisa, Naples, and Florence.
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Countries without airports due to geography
Several countries do not have airports due to geographical constraints. Andorra, for instance, is landlocked between Spain and France and isolated by the Pyrenees, making it challenging to access. The mountainous terrain makes it challenging to find a suitable area for an airport.
Similarly, Liechtenstein is a small, landlocked country nestled between Switzerland and Austria. While it has a geographic area of 160 square kilometres (62 square miles), its terrain may not offer a suitable location for an airport.
Monaco, the second-smallest country in the world, also lacks an airport due to its limited geographical size. With an area of just 2.02 square kilometres (0.78 square miles), there is simply no room for an airport.
San Marino, a landlocked microstate entirely surrounded by Italy, also faces geographical constraints. While it has an area of 61 square kilometres (24 square miles), its terrain may not be suitable for an airport, and it relies on nearby airports in Italy for air travel.
Vatican City, the smallest country in the world with an area of just 0.44 square kilometres (0.17 square miles), does not have an airport due to its limited size. Additionally, it is located within Rome, making it challenging to accommodate an airport in such a densely populated area.
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Frequently asked questions
Five countries have no airports: Monaco, San Marino, Andorra, Liechtenstein, and the Vatican.
These countries are all very small, with limited space, and in some cases, challenging terrain. For example, Liechtenstein is landlocked and mountainous, and Andorra is completely encircled by the Pyrenees mountain range.
Travellers can access these countries by helicopter or by travelling to nearby airports and then taking alternative transport. For example, travellers visiting Monaco can fly into Nice Côte d'Azur Airport in France and then take a taxi or boat to their final destination.
