BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY
(dependent territory of the UK)
GEOGRAPHY
Total area: 60 km2; land area: 60 km2
Comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: none
Coastline: 698 km
Maritime claims:
Territorial sea: 3 nm
Disputes: the entire Chagos Archipelago is claimed by Mauritius
Climate: tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain: flat and low (up to 4 meters in elevation)
Natural resources: coconuts, fish
Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and pastures
0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%
Environment: archipelago of 2,300 islands
Note: Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies
strategic location in central Indian Ocean
PEOPLE
Population: no permanent civilian population; formerly about 3,000
islanders
Ethnic divisions: civilian inhabitants, known as the Ilois,
evacuated to Mauritius before construction of UK and US defense
facilities
GOVERNMENT
Long-form name: British Indian Ocean Territory (no short-form
name); abbreviated BIOT
Type: dependent territory of the UK
Capital: none
Leaders:
Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
Head of Government--Commissioner and Administrator R. EDIS
(since NA 1988); note--resides in the UK
Diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory
of the UK)
Flag: white with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
quadrant and six blue wavy horizontal stripes bearing a palm tree and
yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag
ECONOMY
Overview: All economic activity is concentrated on the largest
island of Diego Garcia, where joint UK-US defense facilities are located.
Construction projects and various services needed to support the military
installations are done by military and contract employees from the UK and
the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the
islands.
Electricity: provided by the US military
COMMUNICATIONS
Highways: short stretch of paved road between port and airfield on
Diego Garcia
Ports: Diego Garcia
Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runways over 3,659 m on Diego
Garcia
Telecommunications: minimal facilities; stations (operated by the
US Navy)--1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
DEFENSE FORCES
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
