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 | data-sort-type="number" | Length (km) | Type | Deaths during crossing attempts | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Argentina–Paraguay | Argentina | 2014 | 1.3 | Anti-illegal immigration | [4] | |||
Austrian border barrier | Austria | 2015 | 3.7 | Anti-illegal immigration | [5] | |||
Belize–Guatemala | Belize | Proposed, agreed | N/A | Disputed territory and anti-illegal immigration | ||||
Botswana–Zimbabwe | Botswana | 2003 | 500 | Protection of livestock against disease (Botswana), anti-immigration (purported from Zimbabwe officials) | 8 | [6] | ||
Brunei–Malaysia | Brunei | 2005 | 20 | Anti-illegal immigration | ||||
Bulgaria–Turkey barrier | Bulgaria | 2014 | 30 | Anti-illegal immigration | [7] | |||
Calais border barrier | United Kingdom and France | 2016 | 1 | Anti-illegal immigration | [8] | |||
Ceuta border fence | Spain | 2001 | 8 | Anti-illegal immigration | 13–18 depending on estimates.[9] | |||
Costa Rica–Nicaragua | Costa Rica | Proposed | N/A | Anti-illegal immigration | ||||
Green Line (Cyprus) | 1964 | 180 | Buffer Zone | |||||
Chinese–Korean border fence | China | 2011 | 1,416 | Anti-illegal immigration | [10] | |||
Chile–Bolivia ditch | Chile and Bolivia | Chile | 2022 (Under construction) | N/A | Anti-illegal immigration | [11] | ||
Denmark–Germany border fence | Denmark | 2019 | 70 | Wildlife control (official), Anti-immigration (third party claims) | [12] [13] [14] | |||
Dominican–Haiti border fence | Dominican Republic | Under construction 2022 | N/A | Anti-illegal immigration and crime | [15] [16] | |||
Egypt–Gaza barrier | Egypt | 1979, subterranean barrier under construction | 3.1 | Anti-terrorism and anti-illegal immigration | [17] | |||
Estonia–Russia barrier | Estonia | 2018 | 110 | Anti-intrusion, illegal trade and illegal immigration | [18] | |||
Finland–Russia border barrier | Finland | 2023 | 200 | Against Russian intrusion, illegal trade and illegal immigration | [19] | |||
Greece–Turkey border | Greece | 2012, expanded 2021[20] [21] | 200 | Anti-illegal immigration | [22] [23] [24] [25] | |||
North Macedonia–Greece barrier | North Macedonia | 2015 | 30 | Anti-illegal immigration | [26] | |||
Malaysia–Thailand border | Thailand | Proposed | 650 | Anti-terrorism | ||||
Melilla border fence | Spain | 1998 | 11 | Anti-illegal immigration | ||||
Hungary–Serbia barrier | Hungary | 2015 | 175 | Anti-illegal immigration | [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] | |||
Hungary–Croatia barrier | Hungary | 2015 | 41 | Anti-illegal immigration | ||||
India–Bangladesh barrier | India | Under construction | 3,268 | Anti-illegal immigration | ||||
India–Myanmar barrier | India | Under construction | 1,624 | Anti-drug smuggling and anti-terrorism | ||||
India-Nepal barrier | India | Under construction | ? | Anti-illegal immigration Anti-terrorism | ||||
India–Pakistan barrier | India | 2004 | 550 | Anti-terrorism | [32] | |||
Iran–Pakistan barrier | Pakistan[33] and Iran | Under construction | 959 | Anti-terrorism and Anti-drug smuggling | [34] [35] [36] | |||
Iran–Afghanistan border | Iran and Afghanistan | Iran | Under construction | 140 | 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 | 2006 | 45 | Anti-drug smuggling | ||||
Korean Demilitarized Zone | 1953 | 248 | Conflict zone | |||||
Kruger National Park | South Africa | 1975 | 120 | Anti-illegal immigration | 89 (Army), over 200 (Various churches) | |||
South Africa–Zimbabwe Border | South Africa | 2000s | 225 | Anti-illegal immigration, anti-drug smuggling, anti-weapon smuggling | [38] [39] [40] [41] | |||
Kuwait–Iraq barrier | Kuwait | 1991 | 193 | Conflict zone | ||||
Latvia–Russia border fence | Latvia | 2015 | 90 | Anti-illegal immigration | [42] | |||
Libya–Tunisia barrier | Tunisia | TBA | 460 | Anti-terrorism, Anti-illegal immigration | ||||
Lithuania-Belarus barrier | Lithuania | 2021[43] | 502 | Anti-illegal immigration | [44] [45] | |||
Lithuania–Russia border fence | Lithuania | 2017 | 130 | Anti-smuggling, anti-illegal immigration, anti-intrusion | [46] | |||
Moroccan Western Sahara Wall | Morocco | 1980 | 2,700 | Conflict zone | [47] | |||
Norway–Russia border barrier | Norway | 2016 | 0,2 | Anti-illegal immigration | [48] | |||
Pakistan–Afghanistan barrier | Pakistan | ongoing | 2,670 | Anti-terrorism, anti-illegal immigration, anti drug smuggling | [49] [50] | |||
Poland–Belarus barrier | Poland | 2022[51] | 186 | Anti-illegal immigration | 21[52] | [53] [54] [55] [56] [57] | ||
Saudi–Yemen barrier | Saudi Arabia | 2004 | 75 | Anti-illegal immigration | ||||
Saudi–Iraq barrier | Saudi Arabia | 2014 | 900 | Anti-illegal immigration and conflict zone | [58] [59] [60] | |||
Slovenia–Croatia barrier | Slovenia | 2016 | 220 | Anti-illegal immigration | [61] [62] [63] | |||
Serbia–North Macedonia barrier | Serbia | 2020 | 240 | Anti-illegal immigration | [64] | |||
Turkey–Syria border barrier | Turkey | 2018 | 828 | Anti-terrorism, anti-illegal immigration and smuggling | [65] | |||
Turkey–Iran border barrier | Turkey | 2019 | 144 | Anti-terrorism, anti-illegal immigration and smuggling | ||||
Turkmen–Uzbekistan barrier | Turkmenistan | 2001 | 1,700 | Anti-illegal immigration | ||||
Ukraine–Russia barrier | Ukraine | Under construction | 2,000 | Anti Weapon Smuggling and Conflict zone | ||||
United Arab Emirates–Oman barrier | United Arab Emirates | 2018 | 410 | Anti-illegal immigration | ||||
Mexico–United States barrier | United States | Partially Constructed | 1,000 | Anti-illegal immigration and smuggling | [66] [67] [68] [69] [70] [71] [72] [73] [74] [75] | |||
Uzbek–Afghanistan barrier | Uzbekistan | 2001 | 209 | Anti-illegal immigration | ||||
Uzbek–Kyrgyzstan barrier | 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 | 1990s–2000s | ? | Anti-terrorism |
The King Alfonso V of Portugal built walls on the outskirts of the city of Asilah, serving as a border between the Kingdom of Portugal and the Marinid dynasty (1471–1472), the Saadi Sultanate (1472–1550), the Wattasid dynasty (1577–1589), in the area of the sea there are still cannons next to a Portuguese square tower. Currently the Wall is in good condition.
Ming dynasty (currently China) built a wall around Macau in 1570.