Strait of Hormuz Map & Location

The strait sits at coordinates approximately 26.5°N, 56.5°E and forms the only maritime outlet from the oil-rich Persian Gulf to the open ocean. At its narrowest point, it is just 33–34 kilometres (21 miles) wide — a geographical bottleneck that concentrates an extraordinary share of global energy trade through a single, confined passage.

For a detailed interactive map with port locations, island positions, and shipping lane overlays, visit our dedicated Strait of Hormuz Map page.

Strait of Hormuz Map — Middle East

On a Middle East map, the Strait of Hormuz appears as a narrow gap at the base of the Persian Gulf, separating the Arabian Peninsula from the Iranian plateau. The surrounding region includes some of the world’s highest concentrations of proven oil reserves — Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, and Iran all rely on the strait for the majority of their export revenues.

Key regional landmarks relative to the strait:

Iran’s control of the northern coastline and its occupation of disputed islands (Abu Musa, Greater and Lesser Tunb) gives it unparalleled military leverage over the passage. See our full Iran & the Strait of Hormuz analysis for more detail.

Strait of Hormuz — World Map Position

Globally, the Strait of Hormuz occupies one of the most strategically sensitive positions on earth. It lies at the intersection of three major water bodies — the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and Arabian Sea — which themselves connect to the Indian Ocean. This positions it as the gateway through which Middle Eastern oil reaches its primary consumers in Asia and Europe.

No other single maritime chokepoint concentrates this volume of global energy trade. The Suez Canal, Bab-el-Mandeb, and Malacca Strait are all important — but none handles as large a share of irreplaceable energy flows as Hormuz, because unlike those straits, most Persian Gulf oil and all Qatari LNG have no viable alternative export route.

Strait of Hormuz on a Map — What to Look For

When locating the Strait of Hormuz on any map, look for the narrow bottleneck at the southeastern corner of the Persian Gulf. The shape is distinctive: the Gulf narrows sharply from a wide body of water to a thin passage approximately 33 km across before opening into the Gulf of Oman.

Key features to identify on a map:

• Iranian coastline — the long northern shore, including Bandar Abbas (Iran’s main naval base)
• Musandam Peninsula — the dramatic mountainous Omani exclave jutting northward from the Arabian Peninsula
• Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) — two 3.2 km-wide lanes, inbound and outbound, running through Omani territorial waters
• Disputed islands — Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, positioned directly in the shipping lanes
• Larak Island — used by Iran in 2026 as a control point for permitted transit

Explore an annotated interactive version on our dedicated map page.

What Percent of the World’s Oil Passes Through the Strait of Hormuz?

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) ranks the Strait of Hormuz as the world’s most important oil transit chokepoint by volume. The top exporters by volume through the strait in 2024 were:

Of the crude oil and condensate flowing through the strait, 84% was destined for Asian markets, with China, India, Japan, and South Korea being the top four destinations. The 2026 crisis has severely disrupted these flows — follow live updates at our Risk Monitor.

Strait of Hormuz Map — Live Ship Tracker

During the 2026 crisis, the live map has become an essential resource for tracking which vessels are transiting, which are turning back, and where the IRGC is enforcing restrictions. Under normal conditions, the tracker shows 100+ vessels in transit at any given time. During the current blockade period, that number has fallen to single digits on many days.

The live tracker aggregates data from both terrestrial and satellite AIS (Automatic Identification System) receivers — the mandatory transponder system on commercial vessels over 300 gross tonnes. During the crisis, a significant number of vessels have disabled their transponders (“going dark”), so live counts represent a confirmed floor, not the ceiling.

Strait of Hormuz — Pronunciation

The name “Hormuz” derives from the Middle Persian pronunciation of the Zoroastrian deity Hormoz (Ahura Mazda). An alternative etymology suggests it comes from the local Persian word Hur-Mogh (هورمغ), meaning “Place of Dates.” A third theory links it to the Greek word ὅρμος (hormos), meaning “bay” or “cove.”

Common mispronunciations include “HOR-muhz,” “hor-MYOOZ,” and “HOR-muz.” The correct form, as used by Persian speakers and international news broadcasters, is consistently hor-MOOZ.

Strait of Hormuz Importance — Why It Matters

The EIA, IEA, and every major energy security institution rank Hormuz above all other maritime chokepoints in strategic importance. Here is why:

When the strait is disrupted, the effects cascade rapidly: oil prices spike within hours, LNG markets tighten within days, and inflation follows within weeks. The 2026 crisis has demonstrated this chain in real time — Brent crude reached $126/barrel at peak.

Strait of Hormuz News — Latest Developments

The Strait of Hormuz has been at the centre of the world’s most significant energy crisis since the 1970s, following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, which triggered Iran’s closure of the waterway to most commercial shipping.

Key recent developments (reverse chronological):

Strait of Hormuz Status — Is It Open or Closed?

For a live composite closure risk score based on six weighted indicators, see our Hormuz Risk Monitor.

Strait of Hormuz Google Map

Google Maps labels the strait and shows the surrounding bodies of water — Persian Gulf to the west and Gulf of Oman to the east. In satellite view, you can see the narrow passage between the Iranian and Omani coastlines, though the specific shipping lane markings are more clearly shown on maritime navigation charts.

For a purpose-built Hormuz map with annotated ports, islands, shipping routes, pipeline bypass routes, and 2026 crisis overlays — more useful than Google Maps for strategic analysis — visit our dedicated interactive map.

Is the Strait of Hormuz Closed or Open?

The history of this closure phase:

• Feb 28, 2026: IRGC issues first “no passage” radio warnings
• Mar 2, 2026: Full closure declared; attacks on vessels begin
• Mar–Apr 2026: Selective passage for neutral nations only
• Apr 8, 2026: Ceasefire framework; limited transit briefly resumes
• Apr 17, 2026: Iran declares full opening — lasts ~24 hours
• Apr 18, 2026: Re-closure after US refuses to lift port blockade
• Apr 22, 2026: Active IRGC enforcement; seizures of vessels

The strait has never before been successfully closed for more than brief periods. The current closure — now in its eighth week — is the longest sustained disruption in history. Check our Risk Monitor for the current composite risk score.

Strait of Hormuz Today — April 22, 2026

For real-time updates throughout the day, our Latest News page is updated multiple times daily. Our live ship tracker shows vessel movements as they happen.

Strait of Hormuz Blockade News

The 2026 Hormuz blockade is the most severe maritime crisis since World War II. Below is a structured overview of the blockade’s key phases:

The blockade has been described by the IEA as “the largest disruption to global energy supply since the 1970s oil crisis.” For the complete event-by-event account, visit our Crisis Timeline (1973–2026).

Straits of Hormuz News — What the World Is Reporting

The “Straits of Hormuz” (the plural form is also widely used) is the most-covered geopolitical story of 2026. Global media coverage has focused on several interconnected threads:

For curated, real-time coverage across all of these threads in one place, our Latest News page aggregates and contextualises global reporting on the strait.

Iran Strait of Hormuz Closure — Why and How

Iran’s ability to close or restrict the strait is the product of decades of deliberate military investment. Its key capabilities include:

• Sea mines: Estimated 5,000+ mines deployable via high-speed boats; several confirmed in shipping lanes since March 2026
• Fast attack craft (FAC): IRGC operates hundreds of small, fast boats capable of swarming larger vessels
• Anti-ship missiles: Shore-based launchers throughout the strait on mobile platforms
• Submarine threat: Iran operates a fleet of midget and conventional submarines
• Island control: Abu Musa, Greater and Lesser Tunb sit directly in the shipping lanes
• Electronic warfare: GPS spoofing and radar jamming reported throughout the crisis

Iran’s strategic calculation is that closure — or the threat of closure — gives it leverage that no financial pressure can match. As long as 20% of world oil depends on the strait, Iran holds a card that forces global powers to negotiate. Read our full analysis at Iran & the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran Closed the Strait of Hormuz — What Happened

The sequence of events that triggered the closure:

1. Failed Geneva talks (late 2025) — Nuclear negotiations between Iran and the US collapsed
2. 12-day air conflict (2025) — A prior limited engagement between Israel and Iran escalated tensions
3. US-Israeli strikes (Feb 28, 2026) — Airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities; Khamenei assassinated
4. IRGC radio warnings (Feb 28) — Strait declared closed to all foreign shipping
5. Oil majors suspend transit (Feb 28–Mar 1) — Maersk, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM all halt Hormuz operations
6. Insurance withdrawn (Mar 5) — War risk coverage pulled; transit commercially unviable
7. Vessel attacks begin — 21+ confirmed attacks on merchant ships as of April 2026

See the complete event-by-event record at our Crisis Timeline.

Strait of Hormuz Oil Impact — Global Economic Consequences

The impacts extend far beyond the energy sector:

Hormuz Strait Blockade — The Military Standoff

The blockade has created economic pressure on both sides. Iran loses an estimated $435 million per day in trade revenues. The global economy loses access to 20 million barrels of daily oil supply. For the US, controlling the strait means controlling the petrodollar system underpinning American economic dominance.

Strait of Hormuz Tensions — A History

The 2026 crisis did not emerge in a vacuum. Tensions over the Strait of Hormuz have recurred throughout the modern era, always tied to the broader US-Iran confrontation and to the global economy’s dependence on Persian Gulf oil.

For the full annotated timeline from 1973 to the present, visit our Strait of Hormuz Crisis Timeline.

Strait of Hormuz Traffic — Ships, Tankers & Transit Data

The Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) — two opposing 3.2 km-wide lanes operating under Omani territorial waters — which normally governs all commercial transit, has been effectively suspended. Iranian forces control which vessels may use the waterway and on what terms.