Loading AI tools
Separation barrier that runs along or near an international border From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A border barrier, border fence or border wall is a separation barrier that runs along or near an international border. Such barriers are typically constructed for border control purposes such as curbing illegal immigration, human trafficking, and smuggling.[1][2] Some such barriers are constructed for defence or security reasons. In cases of a disputed or unclear border, erecting a barrier can serve as a de facto unilateral consolidation of a territorial claim that can supersede formal delimitation. A border barrier does not usually indicate the location of the actual border, and is usually constructed unilaterally by a country, without the agreement or cooperation of the other country.
Examples of border walls include the ancient Great Wall of China, a series of walls separating China from nomadic empires to the north. The construction of border barriers increased in the early 2000s; half of all the border barriers built since World War II, which ended in 1945, were built after 2000.[3]
Note: The table can be sorted alphabetically or chronologically using the icon.
Name | Countries affected | Built and maintained by | Date built | Length (km) | Type | Deaths during crossing attempts | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Argentina–Paraguay | Argentina and Paraguay | Argentina | 2014 | 1.3 | Anti-illegal immigration | [4] | |
Austrian border barrier | Austria, Italy, and Slovenia | Austria | 2015 | 3.7 | Anti-illegal immigration | [5] | |
Belize–Guatemala | Belize and Guatemala | Belize | Proposed, agreed | N/A | Disputed territory and anti-illegal immigration | ||
Botswana–Zimbabwe | Botswana and Zimbabwe | Botswana | 2003 | 500 | Protection of livestock against disease (Botswana), anti-immigration (purported from Zimbabwe officials) | 8 | [6] |
Brunei–Malaysia | Brunei and the city of Limbang, Malaysia | Brunei | 2005 | 20 | Anti-illegal immigration | ||
Bulgaria–Turkey barrier | Bulgaria and Turkey | Bulgaria | 2014 | 30 | Anti-illegal immigration | [7] | |
Calais border barrier | United Kingdom and France | United Kingdom and France | 2016 | 1 | Anti-illegal immigration | [8] | |
Ceuta border fence | Spain and Morocco | Spain | 2001 | 8 | Anti-illegal immigration | 13–18 depending on estimates.[9] | |
Costa Rica–Nicaragua | Costa Rica and Nicaragua | Costa Rica | Proposed | N/A | Anti-illegal immigration | ||
Green Line (Cyprus) | Cyprus and Northern Cyprus | Cyprus and the United Nations | 1964 | 180 | Buffer Zone | ||
Chinese–Korean border fence | China and North Korea | China | 2011 | 1,416 | Anti-illegal immigration | [10] | |
Chile–Bolivia ditch | Chile and Bolivia | Chile | 2022 (Under construction) | N/A | Anti-illegal immigration | [11] | |
China-Vietnam/Myanmar border wall | China, Vietnam andMyanmar | China | 2021 | 3,468 | Anti-illegal immigration | ||
Denmark–Germany border fence | Denmark and Germany | Denmark | 2019 | 70 | Wildlife control (official), Anti-immigration (third party claims) | [12][13][14] | |
Dominican–Haiti border fence | Dominican Republic and Haiti | Dominican Republic | Under construction 2022 | N/A | Anti-illegal immigration and crime | [15][16] | |
Egypt–Gaza barrier | Egypt and Gaza Strip | Egypt | 1979, subterranean barrier under construction | 3.1 | Anti-terrorism and anti-illegal immigration | [17] | |
Estonia–Russia barrier | Estonia and Russia | Estonia | 2018 | 110 | Anti-intrusion, illegal trade and illegal immigration | [18] | |
Finland–Russia border barrier | Finland and Russia | Finland | 2023 | 200 | Against Russian intrusion, illegal trade and illegal immigration | [19] | |
Greece–Turkey border | Greece and Turkey | Greece | 2012, expanded 2021[20][21] | 200 | Anti-illegal immigration | [22][23][24][25] | |
North Macedonia–Greece barrier | North Macedonia and Greece | North Macedonia | 2015 | 30 | Anti-illegal immigration | [26] | |
Malaysia–Thailand border | Thailand and Malaysia | Thailand | Proposed | 650 | Anti-terrorism | ||
Melilla border fence | Spain and Morocco | Spain | 1998 | 11 | Anti-illegal immigration | ||
Hungary–Serbia barrier | Hungary and Serbia | Hungary | 2015 | 175 | Anti-illegal immigration | [27][28][29][30][31] | |
Hungary–Croatia barrier | Hungary and Croatia | Hungary | 2015 | 41 | Anti-illegal immigration | ||
India–Bangladesh barrier | India and Bangladesh | India | Under construction | 3,268 | Anti-illegal immigration | ||
India–Myanmar barrier | India and Myanmar | India | Under construction | 1,624 | Anti-drug smuggling and anti-terrorism | ||
India-Nepal barrier | India and Nepal | India | Under construction | ? | Anti-illegal immigration Anti-terrorism | ||
India–Pakistan barrier | India and Pakistan | India | 2004 | 550 | Anti-terrorism | [32] | |
Iran–Pakistan barrier | Iran and Pakistan | Pakistan[33] and Iran | Under construction | 959 | Anti-terrorism and Anti-drug smuggling | [34][35][36] | |
Iran–Afghanistan barrier | Iran and Afghanistan | Iran | Under construction | 930 | Anti-illegal immigration Anti-terrorism Anti-drug smuggling | ||
Israel-West Bank barrier | Israel and Palestine | Israel | Partially Completed | 708 | Anti-terrorism and disputed territory | [37] | |
Israel-Egypt barrier | Israel and Egypt | Israel | 2013 | 245 | Anti-illegal immigration | ||
Israel-Lebanon barrier | Israel and Lebanon | Israel | 2018 | 11 | Conflict zone | ||
Israel-Gaza barrier | Israel and Gaza Strip | Israel | 1994 | N/A | Anti-terrorism | ||
Kazakhstan–Uzbekistan barrier | Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan | Kazakhstan | 2006 | 45 | Anti-drug smuggling | ||
Korean Demilitarized Zone | North Korea and South Korea | North Korea and United Nations Command | 1953 | 248 | Conflict zone | ||
Kruger National Park | South Africa and Mozambique | South Africa | 1975 | 120 | Anti-illegal immigration | 89 (Army), over 200 (Various churches) | |
South Africa–Zimbabwe Border | South Africa and Zimbabwe | South Africa | 2000s | 225 | Anti-illegal immigration, anti-drug smuggling, anti-weapon smuggling | [38][39][40][41] | |
Kuwait–Iraq barrier | Kuwait and Iraq | Kuwait | 1991 | 193 | Conflict zone | ||
Latvia–Russia border fence | Latvia and Russia | Latvia | 2015 | 90 | Anti-illegal immigration | [42] | |
Libya–Tunisia barrier | Libya and Tunisia | Tunisia | TBA | 460 | Anti-terrorism, Anti-irregular immigration and smuggling of illicit goods | ||
Lithuania-Belarus barrier | Lithuania and Belarus | Lithuania | 2021[43] | 502 | Anti-illegal immigration | [44][45] | |
Lithuania–Russia border fence | Lithuania and Russia | Lithuania | 2017 | 130 | Anti-smuggling, anti-illegal immigration, anti-intrusion | [46] | |
Moroccan Western Sahara Wall | Morocco and Western Sahara | Morocco | 1980 | 2,700 | Conflict zone | [47][48] | |
Norway–Russia border barrier | Norway and Russia | Norway | 2016 | 0,2 | Anti-illegal immigration | [49] | |
Pakistan–Afghanistan barrier | Pakistan and Afghanistan | Pakistan | ongoing | 2,670 | Anti-terrorism, anti-illegal immigration, anti drug smuggling | [50][51] | |
Poland–Belarus barrier | Poland and Belarus | Poland | 2022[52] | 186 | Anti-illegal immigration | 21[53] | [54][55][56][57][58] |
Saudi–Yemen barrier | Saudi Arabia and Yemen | Saudi Arabia | 2004 | 75 | Anti-illegal immigration | ||
Saudi–Iraq barrier | Saudi Arabia and Iraq | Saudi Arabia | 2014 | 900 | Anti-illegal immigration and conflict zone | [59][60][61] | |
Slovenia–Croatia barrier | Slovenia and Croatia | Slovenia | 2016 | 220 | Anti-illegal immigration | [62][63][64] | |
Serbia–North Macedonia barrier | Serbia and North Macedonia | Serbia | 2020 | 240 | Anti-illegal immigration | [65] | |
Turkey–Syria border barrier | Turkey and Syria | Turkey | 2018 | 828 | Anti-terrorism, anti-illegal immigration and smuggling | [66] | |
Turkey–Iran border barrier | Turkey and Iran | Turkey | 2019 | 144 | Anti-terrorism, anti-illegal immigration and smuggling | ||
Turkmen–Uzbekistan barrier | Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan | Turkmenistan | 2001 | 1,700 | Anti-illegal immigration | ||
Ukraine–Russia barrier | Ukraine, Russia and Belarus | Ukraine | Under construction | 2,000 | Anti Weapon Smuggling and Conflict zone | ||
United Arab Emirates–Oman barrier | United Arab Emirates and Oman | United Arab Emirates | 2018 | 410 | Anti-illegal immigration | ||
Mexico–United States barrier | United States and Mexico | United States | Partially Constructed | 1,000 | Anti-illegal immigration and smuggling | [67][68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76] | |
Uzbek–Afghanistan barrier | Uzbekistan and Afghanistan | Uzbekistan | 2001 | 209 | Anti-illegal immigration | ||
Uzbek–Kyrgyzstan barrier | Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan | Uzbekistan | 1999 | 870 | Conflict zone | ||
Hong Kong-China barrier and Forts | Hong Kong and mainland China | United Kingdom and Hong Kong | 1950s | ? | Anti-terrorism Anti-illegal immigration | ||
(Gibraltar) United Kingdom-Spain barrier | (Gibraltar) United Kingdom and Spain | United Kingdom and Gibraltar | 1909 | 1.24 | Anti-terrorism Anti-illegal immigration | ||
Ethiopia–Eritrea barrier | Ethiopia and Eritrea | Ethiopia and Eritrea | 1990s–2000s | ? | Anti-terrorism |
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.