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]
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (December 2021) |
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 |
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Washington (Reuters) – Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said on Monday his country was doing all it could in the U.S.-led war against terrorism and offered to fence and mine its border with Afghanistan to stem Taliban infiltration. "I have been telling Karzai and the United States, 'Let us fence the border and let us mine it.' Today I say it again. Let us mine their entire border. Let us fence it. It's not difficult", Musharraf said, referring to Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
Now the other thing that I've said: if he thinks everyone is crossing from here, I've been saying let us fence the border and let us also mine the border. We are experts at mining, they should mine the border on their side. We will fence it on our side. If that is all right I am for it, so that they are not allowed to go across at all. And then let us see what is happening in Afghanistan. Why don't they agree to this, I've said this openly many times before, they don't do it, for whatever are their reasons. I know how effective the fence, the Indian fence which is about 1,800 kilometres, and they are fencing the Kashmir mountains also, it is so difficult. Why are they doing that, are they mad, they are spending billions of rupees. Because it is effective. Let's fence this border so that this blame game is killed once for ever.
61 percent think that current border security is inadequate, and ... 54 percent support a physical barrier
Most Americans ... oppose building a border wall, but seven in 10 Republicans support it.
59 percent of Americans oppose building a wall... A large majority of Republicans support the wall – 79 percent. A majority of independents – 66 percent – oppose the wall, and 84 percent of Democrats are also against it.
Given the choice between "open borders" ... and a "secure border," 79 percent of Americans agreed that the U.S. needs "secure borders." ... In a different poll, 58 percent of Americans support "building a combination of physical and electronic barriers across the U.S.-Mexico border."