Statistical information Indian Ocean 2001
Indian Ocean in the World
top of pageBackground: The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean but larger than the Southern Ocean and Arctic Ocean). Four critically important access waterways are the Suez Canal (Egypt) Bab el Mandeb (Djibouti-Yemen) Strait of Hormuz (Iran-Oman) and Strait of Malacca (Indonesia-Malaysia). The decision by the International Hydrographic Organization in the spring of 2000 to delimit a fifth ocean the Southern Ocean removed the portion of the Indian Ocean south of 60 degrees south.
top of pageLocation: body of water between Africa the Southern Ocean Asia and Australia
Geographic coordinates: 20 00 S 80 00 E
Map reference:
WorldAreaTotal: 68.556 million km²
Note: includes Andaman Sea, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Great Australian Bight, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Mozambique Channel, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Strait of Malacca, and other tributary water bodies
Comparative: about 5.5 times the size of the US
Land boundariesCoastline: 66,526 km
Maritime claimsClimate: northeast monsoon (December to April) southwest monsoon (June to October); tropical cyclones occur during May/June and October/November in the northern Indian Ocean and January/February in the southern Indian Ocean
Terrain: surface dominated by counterclockwise gyre (broad circular system of currents) in the southern Indian Ocean; unique reversal of surface currents in the northern Indian Ocean; low atmospheric pressure over southwest Asia from hot rising summer air results in the southwest monsoon and southwest-to-northeast winds and currents while high pressure over northern Asia from cold falling winter air results in the northeast monsoon and northeast-to-southwest winds and currents; ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Indian Ocean Ridge and subdivided by the Southeast Indian Ocean Ridge Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge and Ninetyeast Ridge
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Java Trench -7,258 m
Extremes highest point: sea level 0 m
Natural resources: oil and gas fields fish shrimp sand and gravel aggregates placer deposits polymetallic nodules
Land useIrrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: occasional icebergs pose navigational hazard in southern reaches
GeographyNote: major chokepoints include Bab el Mandeb Strait of Hormuz Strait of Malacca southern access to the Suez Canal and the Lombok Strait
top of pagePopulationNationalityEthnic groupsLanguagesReligionsDemographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rateDeath rateNet migration ratePopulation distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: endangered marine species include the dugong seals turtles and whales; oil pollution in the Arabian Sea Persian Gulf and Red Sea
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rateLife expectancy at birthTotal fertility rateContraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracySchool life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameGovernment typeCapitalAdministrative divisionsDependent areasIndependenceNational holidayConstitutionLegal systemInternational law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrageExecutive branchLegislative branchJudicial branchPolitical parties and leadersInternational organization participationDiplomatic representationFlag descriptionNational symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: The Indian Ocean provides major sea routes connecting the Middle East Africa and East Asia with Europe and the Americas. It carries a particularly heavy traffic of petroleum and petroleum products from the oilfields of the Persian Gulf and Indonesia. Its fish are of great and growing importance to the bordering countries for domestic consumption and export. Fishing fleets from Russia Japan South Korea and Taiwan also exploit the Indian Ocean mainly for shrimp and tuna. Large reserves of hydrocarbons are being tapped in the offshore areas of Saudi Arabia Iran India and western Australia. An estimated 40% of the world's offshore oil production comes from the Indian Ocean. Beach sands rich in heavy minerals and offshore placer deposits are actively exploited by bordering countries particularly India South Africa Indonesia Sri Lanka and Thailand.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capita pppGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture productsIndustriesIndustrial production growth rateLabor forceUnemployment rateYouth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetPublic debtTaxes and other revenuesRevenueFiscal yearCurrent account balanceInflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExportsImportsReserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt externalStock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange ratestop of pageElectricity accessElectricity productionElectricity consumptionElectricity exportsElectricity importsElectricity installed generating capacityElectricity transmission distribution lossesElectricity generation sourcesPetroleumRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones fixed linesTelephones mobile cellularTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternet country codeInternet usersBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresMilitary and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirportsAirports with paved runwaysAirports with unpaved runwaysHeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marinePorts and terminalstop of pageDisputes internationalRefugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs