Statistical information Indian Ocean 2003
Indian Ocean in the World
Indian Ocean - Introduction 2003
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).
Indian Ocean - Geography 2003
top of pageLocation: body of water between Africa the Southern Ocean Asia and Australia
Geographic coordinates: 20 00 S 80 00 E
Map reference: Political Map of the World
Area
Total: 68.556 million km²
Note: includes Andaman Sea, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Flores Sea, Great Australian Bight, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Java Sea, Mozambique Channel, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Savu Sea, Strait of Malacca, Timor Sea, and other tributary water bodies
Comparative: about 5.5 times the size of the US
Land boundaries
Coastline: 66,526 km
Maritime claims
Climate: 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
Elevation
Extremes 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 use
Land use
Irrigated land
Major rivers
Major watersheds area km²
Total water withdrawal
Total renewable water resources
Natural hazards: occasional icebergs pose navigational hazard in southern reaches
Geography
Note: major chokepoints include Bab el Mandeb Strait of Hormuz Strait of Malacca southern access to the Suez Canal and the Lombok Strait
Indian Ocean - People 2003
top of pagePopulation
Nationality
Ethnic groups
Languages
Religions
Demographic profile
Age structure
Age structure
Dependency ratios
Median age
Population growth rate
Birth rate
Death rate
Net migration rate
Population distribution
Urbanization
Major urban areas
Environment
Current issues: endangered marine species include the dugong seals turtles and whales; oil pollution in the Arabian Sea Persian Gulf and Red Sea
Air pollutants
Sex ratio
Mothers mean age at first birth
Maternal mortality ratio
Infant mortality rate
Life expectancy at birth
Total fertility rate
Contraceptive prevalence rate
Drinking water source
Current health expenditure
Physicians density
Hospital bed density
Sanitation facility access
Hiv/Aids
Major infectious diseases
Obesity adult prevalence rate
Alcohol consumption
Tobacco use
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
Education expenditures
Literacy
School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Youth unemployment
Indian Ocean - Government 2003
top of pageCountry name
Government type
Capital
Administrative divisions
Dependent areas
Independence
National holiday
Constitution
Legal system
International law organization participation
Citizenship
Suffrage
Executive branch
Legislative branch
Judicial branch
Political parties and leaders
International organization participation
Diplomatic representation
Flag description
National symbols
National anthem
National heritage
Indian Ocean - Economy 2003
top 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 parity
Real gdp growth rate
Real gdp per capita
Gross national saving
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end use
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture products
Industries
Industrial production growth rate
Labor force
Labor force
Unemployment rate
Youth unemployment
Population below poverty line
Gini index
Household income or consumption by percentage share
Distribution of family income gini index
Budget
Taxes and other revenues
Public debt
Revenue
Fiscal year
Inflation rate consumer prices
Central bank discount rate
Commercial bank prime lending rate
Stock of narrow money
Stock of broad money
Stock of domestic credit
Market value of publicly traded shares
Current account balance
Exports
Imports
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Debt external
Stock of direct foreign investment at home
Stock of direct foreign investment abroad
Exchange rates
Indian Ocean - Energy 2003
top of pageElectricity
Coal
Petroleum
Crude oil
Refined petroleum
Natural gas
Carbon dioxide emissions
Energy consumption per capita
Indian Ocean - Communication 2003
top of pageTelephones
Telephone system
Broadcast media
Internet
Broadband fixed subscriptions
Indian Ocean - Military 2003
top of pageMilitary expenditures
Military and security forces
Military service age and obligation
Space program
Terrorist groups
Indian Ocean - Transportation 2003
top of pageNational air transport system
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
Airports
Heliports
Pipelines
Railways
Roadways
Waterways
Merchant marine
Ports and terminals
Indian Ocean - Transnational issues 2003
top of pageDisputes international: some maritime disputes (see littoral states)
Refugees and internally displaced persons
Illicit drugs
