Background: Established as a territory of the UK in 1965 a number of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) islands were transferred to the Seychelles when it attained independence in 1976. Subsequently BIOT has consisted only of the six main island groups comprising the Chagos Archipelago. The largest and most southerly of the islands Diego Garcia contains a joint UK-US naval support facility. All of the remaining islands are uninhabited. Former agricultural workers earlier resident in the islands were relocated primarily to Mauritius but also to the Seychelles between 1967 and 1973.

Geographic coordinates: 6 00 S, 71 30 E

Map reference: World

Area
Total: 60 km²
Land: 60 km²
Water: 0 km²
Note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago
Comparative: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 698 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds

Terrain: flat and low (up to four meters in elevation)

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m

Natural resources: coconuts, fish

Land use
Arable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 0%
Forests and woodland: NA%
Other: NA%

Irrigated land: 0 km² (1993)

Natural hazards: NA

Geography
Note: archipelago of 2,300 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility

Population: no indigenous inhabitants
Note: there are UK-US military personnel and civilian contractors; approximately 3,000 native inhabitants, known as the Chagosians or Ilois, were evacuated to Mauritius before construction of UK-US military facilities

Environment
Current issues: NA
International agreements party to: NA
International agreements signed but not ratified: NA

Country name
Conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory
Conventional short form: none
Abbreviation: BIOT

Legal system: NA

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952): ead of
Government: Commissioner David Ross MACLENNAN (since NA 1994); Administrator Don CAIRNS (since NA); note_both reside in the UK
Cabinet: NA
Elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; commissioner and administrator appointed by the queen

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (dependent territory of the UK)
From the us: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Flag description: 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, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands.

Electricity
Capacity: NA kW
Capacity note: electricity supplied by the US military
Production: NA kWh
Production note: electricity supplied by the US military
Consumption per capita: NA kWh

Telephones: NA

Telephone system: facilities for military needs only
Domestic: NA
International: NA

Airports: 1 (1997 est.)
With paved runways total: 1
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Disputes international: the island of Diego Garcia is claimed by Mauritius; the Chagos Archipelago is claimed by Seychelles