other: 100%

Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)

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

Spratly Islands People

Population: no indigenous inhabitants

note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by personnel of several claimant states (July 2001 est.)

Spratly Islands Government

Country name: conventional long form: none