What is the Strait of Hormuz?

The Strait of Hormuz is a skinny strip of sea separating the Persian Gulf to the northwest from the Gulf of Oman to the southeast. Its narrowest point is just 33 kilometres wide —less than the distance between the cities of Mississauga (where World Vision Canada is located) and Hamilton.

It may look small on a map, but it’s one of the world’s most important waterways. Every day:

• Approximately 20 million barrels of crude oil transit the Strait of Hormuz.
• Nearly 33 per cent of the world’s fertilizer and helium supply pass through the strait.

Oil for vehicles and machines. Fertilizer for crops and farms. Helium for medical purposes. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical choke point, helping power many of the modern conveniences we count on daily.

Why is the Strait of Hormuz important?

Geographically, the Strait of Hormuz is a vital link in a strategic maritime chain. It connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, which opens into the Arabian Sea and ultimately the Indian Ocean.

That’s 75 million square kilometres of water connected by a slip narrower than the distance of a marathon.

Even if you don’t live near the Persian Gulf, many of the things your community relies on are directly or indirectly connected to goods moving through the Strait of Hormuz:

• Fuel for your car
• Power for your home
• Food in your grocery cart
• Medicines in your hospital
• Products from local factories

So, why is the Strait of Hormuz important? Because it doesn’t just connect oceans, but everyday life around the world.

It allows resource-rich countries to share goods with the rest of the planet. At least 50 countries receive goods that transit the strait and 60 per cent of the global population gets its oil from the strait.

What happens if the Strait of Hormuz is blocked?

The Strait of Hormuz is more than a shipping corridor. The goods and supplies flowing through make it a lifeline for global food and manufacturing systems.

But what happens if the Strait of Hormuz is blocked? What is impacted the most? And who?

Let’s break it down.

Oil: supply shortages and rising costs

Many low-income countries, such as Haiti, Ethiopia and Nepal, are not known as fuel producers:

• Eleven countries are considered oil producers and eight are considered gas producers.
• Low-income countries produce less than one per cent of the world’s oil and gas.

Around 75 per cent of the world's population lives in countries that import fuel for their energy needs. When supply is disrupted, these countries have little or no domestic production to rely on. Nor can they absorb rising energy costs.

For countries in fragile contexts, this means:

• Higher household spending on fuel for heating, cooking and transportation.
• Energy access, which is already limited, becomes even less reliable.
• Families must make difficult trade-offs between spending on food, healthcare and energy.

• Solar water brings new life: Discover how communities in Uganda, Malawi and Sierra Leone use solar power to bring clean water for support better health, sustainability and dignity.

Fertilizer: increased food insecurity

The Strait of Hormuz is a vital shipping route for global fertilizer. Around 16 million tonnes of fertilizer pass through the strait annually, with urea, sulfur and ammonia being major exports.

This matters to farmers, because:

• Without urea, farmers struggle to maintain crop yields, thus reducing potential income.
• Without sulfur, soil nutrient balance declines, lowering farm productivity.
• Without ammonia, harvests are threatened, putting farms and livelihoods at risk.

Urea, for example, costs nearly $700 USD per ton. Disruptions can spike that price up to 47 per cent.

This impact is felt downstream by families and communities. In some of the world’s poorest countries, households spend 55 per cent of income on food. In high-income countries, it’s only 15 per cent.

When the Strait of Hormuz is blocked, food prices rise while the availability and quality of staple foods decline.

• Bilkisa harvests a bounty: Meet Bilkisa. She lives in Ethiopia and with World Vision Canada’s support, women like her can farm their way to a more independent future.

Medicines: disrupted healthcare systems

Approximately two billion people worldwide lack access to essential medicines or medical equipment. Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) is especially critical because it:

• Fuels power plants and generators which supply electricity to hospitals and labs.
• Keeps vaccines and medications at precise cold temperatures during transport.
• Supports other gases like helium, nitrogen and oxygen used in MRI machines and other equipment.

Many countries rely on imported LNG and medical supplies. If shipments through the Strait of Hormuz are blocked:

• Hospitals may face shortages of vaccines, medicines and working equipment.
• Only the most critical patients may receive treatment, while care for others is delayed.
• Healthcare costs may rise and may be out of reach for low-income families.

• The sponsored child who became a doctor: In Haiti, Bernard dreamed of being a doctor. With support from World Vision, he left home, became a doctor and returned to help his community.

The Strait of Hormuz may be narrow, but its influence is vast. Disruptions ripple through energy, food and healthcare systems, impacting billions of people across continents.

Who controls the Strait of Hormuz?

Three countries have shorelines along the Strait of Hormuz:

• Iran.
• Oman (via its Musandam Peninsula exclave).
• United Arab Emirates (UAE)

The shipping lanes of the strait are mostly in Omani waters (due to depth). And while no country “owns” it, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) states that Oman controls the waters south of the shipping lanes and Iran controls the north.

Because it has the longest coastline and largest navy in the region, Iran asserts a military presence over the Strait of Hormuz. As a vital shipping conduit, safe passage is generally protected under international law.

But during times of conflict and tension, this is not always the case.

Are there any other places like the Strait of Hormuz?

The Strait of Hormuz may be the world’s most important shipping choke point. It’s not the only narrow passage where global trade is concentrated. There are other straits and waterways that play critical roles:

Strait of Malacca

• Countries: Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia
• Connects the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea and Pacific Ocean. Around 25 per cent of global shipping passes through the Strait of Malacca.

Suez Canal

• Country: Egypt
• Links the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. It’s the shortest sea route between Europe and Asia. Roughly 12 per cent of trade and oil shipments transit the Suez Canal.

Panama Canal

• Country: Panama
• One of the most ambitious engineering projects in human history. Connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and saves ships from having to travel almost 13,000 kilometres around Cape Horn.

Strait of Gibraltar

• Countries: Spain, Morocco, United Kingdom (Territory of Gibraltar)
• Separates Europe from Africa and the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. Around 100,000 ships pass through annually and ferries transport people between continents in just 35 minutes.

Bab el-Mandeb Strait

• Countries: Yemen, Dijibouti, Eritrea
• Connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. About 5 million barrels of oil pass through every day. At 29 kilometres wide, it is narrower than the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz: in perspective

The Strait of Hormuz is only 33 kilometres wide, but its impact spans continents.

Every day, fuel, food and medicine pass through this narrow waterway, keeping industries running, families fed and hospitals functioning. And disruptions don’t just affect trade—they affect real lives.

People face higher food and energy costs, farmers struggle to sustain communities and hospitals risk shortages of life-saving medicines and equipment.

Ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz is essential. Because billions of people literally depend on it.

Join us in helping low-income countries reduce reliance on imported goods

Many locations served by World Vision Canada are reliant on the Strait of Hormuz. Any disruptions can impact their health, wellbeing and safety.

But together, we can minimize the impact of faraway tensions and conflict. Here’s how:

Give help where it’s needed most

• Donate to the most vulnerable and ensure ongoing access to essentials like food and healthcare and more.

Give agricultural gifts

• Donate seeds, trees, agricultural packs and community gardens to reduce reliance on imported food.

Provide solar panels

• Help provide clean, almost limitless energy for irrigation systems that help grow food and medical facilities that keep people healthy.

Donate medical supplies

• Keep community healthcare clinics stocked with life-saving supplies, medicines, deworming drugs and more.