Background: Formerly administered as part of the British Crown Colony of Mauritius the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) was established as an overseas territory of the UK in 1965. A number of the islands of the territory were later 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. Between 1967 and 1973 former agricultural workers earlier residents in the islands were relocated primarily to Mauritius but also to the Seychelles. Negotiations between 1971 and 1982 resulted in the establishment of a trust fund by the British Government as compensation for the displaced islanders known as Chagossians. Beginning in 1998 the islanders pursued a series of lawsuits against the British Government seeking further compensation and the right to return to the territory. In 2006 and 2007 British court rulings invalidated the immigration policies contained in the 2004 BIOT Constitution Order that had excluded the islanders from the archipelago but upheld the special military status of Diego Garcia. In 2008 the House of Lords as the final court of appeal in the UK ruled in favor of the British Government by overturning the lower court rulings and finding no right of return for the Chagossians.

Geographic coordinates: 6 00 S 71 30 E; note - Diego Garcia 7 20 S 72 25 E

Area
Rank: 128
Land: 60 km²; Diego Garcia 44 km²
Water: 54,340 km²
Comparative: land area is about 0.3 times the size of Washington DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 698 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate: tropical marine; hot humid moderated by trade winds

Terrain: flat and low (most areas do not exceed two meters in elevation)

Elevation
Extremes highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m

Natural resources: coconuts fish sugarcane

Land use
Permanent crops: 0%
Other: 100% (2011)

Natural hazards: NA

Geography
Note: archipelago of 55 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

Environment
Current issues: NA

Country name
Conventional short form: none
Abbreviation: BIOT

Legal system: the laws of the UK where applicable apply

Executive branch
Head of government: Commissioner Colin ROBERTS (since July 2008); Administrator John MCMANUS (since April 2011); note - both reside in the UK and are represented by the officer commanding British Forces on Diego Garcia
Cabinet: NA
Elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; commissioner and administrator appointed by the monarch

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

Flag description: white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK is in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palm tree and yellow crown (the symbols of the territory) centered on the outer half of the flag; the wavy stripes represent the Indian Ocean; although not officially described the six blue stripes may stand for the six main atolls of the archipelago

Economy overview: All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia where a joint UK-US military facility is located. Construction projects and various services needed to support the military installation are performed by military and contract employees from the UK Mauritius the Philippines and the US. Some of the natural resources found in this territory include coconuts fish and sugarcane. Sugarcane is still a major export for this territory. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands. The territory earns foreign exchange by selling fishing licenses and postage stamps.

Exchange rates: the US dollar is used

Telephone system
Domestic: all commercial telephone services are available including connection to the Internet
International: country code (Diego Garcia) - 246; international telephone service is carried by satellite (2000)

Broadcast media: Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) broadcasts over 3 separate frequencies for US and UK military personnel stationed on the islands (2009)

Internet
Country code: .io
Hosts: 75,006 (2012)
Hosts rank: 85

Airports: 1 (2013)
Rank: 220
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1 (2013)

Disputes international: Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islands; Negotiations between 1971 and 1982 resulted in the establishment of a trust fund by the British Government as compensation for the displaced islanders known as Chagossians who were evicted between 1967-73; in 2001 the former inhabitants of the archipelago were granted UK citizenship and the right of return; in 2006 and 2007 British court rulings invalidated the immigration policies contained in the 2004 BIOT Constitution Order that had excluded the islanders from the archipelago; in 2008 a House of Lords' decision overturned lower court rulings once again denying the right of return to Chagossians; in addition the United Kingdom created the world's largest marine protection area around the Chagos islands prohibiting the extraction of any natural resources therein