World Factbook
Paracel Islands
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Area
land
7.75 sq km ca.
water
0 sq km
total
8 sq km ca.
Climate
tropical
Terrain
mostly low and flat
Land use
other
100% (2018 est.)
Location
Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in the South China Sea, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to the northern Philippines
Coastline
518 km
Elevation
lowest point
South China Sea 0 m
highest point
unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m
Irrigated land
0 sq km (2022)
Map references
Southeast Asia
Land boundaries
total
0 km
Natural hazards
typhoons
Geography - note
composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group
Natural resources
none
Area - comparative
land area is about 13 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Geographic coordinates
16 30 N, 112 00 E
Population distribution
a population of over 1,000 Chinese resides on Woody Island, the largest of the Paracels; there are scattered Chinese garrisons on some other islands