Paracel Islands Intelligence Report
Download PDF with 20+ statistics, rankings & proprietary indices
Introduction
Background
The Paracel Islands are encircled by abundant fishing areas and prospective reserves of oil and gas. In 1932, the islands were annexed by French Indochina, which established a meteorological station on Pattle Island. Since 1974, China has maintained control over all of the Paracel Islands, following the capture of a South Vietnamese military post located on the western islands. On Woody Island, China has developed a military base that includes an airstrip and a man-made harbor, along with deploying military garrisons on several other islands. Additionally, both Taiwan and Vietnam assert claims over the Paracel Islands.
Geography
Area
land
7.75 sq km ca.
water
0 sq km
total
8 sq km ca.
Climate
tropical
Terrain
predominantly flat and low
Land use
other
100% (2018 est.)
Location
Southeast Asia, a collection of small islands and reefs situated in the South China Sea, approximately one-third of the distance 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
consists of 130 small coral islands and reefs categorized into the northeastern Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group
Natural resources
none
Area - comparative
the land area is roughly 13 times larger than the National Mall located in Washington, D.C.
Geographic coordinates
16 30 N, 112 00 E
Population distribution
more than 1,000 Chinese individuals inhabit Woody Island, the largest of the Paracels; additional Chinese garrisons are dispersed across some other islands
People & Society
Population
total
2,230 (2024 est.)
Net migration rate
-0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Population growth rate
0.75% (2021 est.)
Population distribution
more than 1,000 Chinese individuals inhabit Woody Island, the largest island in the Paracel archipelago; there are also dispersed Chinese military outposts on several other islands.
Environment
Climate
tropical
Land use
other
100% (2018 est.)
Environmental issues
damage to reef ecosystems resulting from China's utilization of dredged sand and coral for the creation of artificial islands; detrimental effects on the ecosystem due to human activities such as military operations, infrastructure development, and tourism
Government
Country name
conventional long form
none
conventional short form
Paracel Islands
Economy
Communications
Transportation
Airports
2 (2025)
Heliports
7 (2025)
Military & Security
Military - note
China occupies the Paracels, where it is estimated to operate 20 outposts or bases, including Antelope, Bombay, and North reefs; Drummond, Duncan, Lincoln, Middle, Money, North, Pattle, Quanfu, Robert, South, Tree, Triton, Woody, and Yagong islands; South Sand and West Sand; and Observation Bank. Woody Island serves as the principal military installation, featuring an airstrip equipped with aircraft hangers, naval infrastructure, surveillance radar systems, and defensive measures such as surface-to-air missiles and anti-ship cruise missiles (2025)
