Background: This uninhabited volcanic island in Antarctica is almost entirely covered by glaciers, making it difficult to approach. Bouvet Island is recognized as the most remote island on Earth because it is furthest from any other point of land (1,639 km from Antarctica). The island was named after the French naval officer who discovered it in 1739, although no country laid claim to it until 1825, when the British flag was raised. A few expeditions visited the island in the late 19th century. In 1929, the UK waived its claim in favor of Norway, which had occupied the island two years previously. In 1971, Norway designated Bouvet Island and the adjacent territorial waters as a nature reserve. Since 1977, Norway has run an automated meteorological station and studied foraging strategies and distribution of fur seals and penguins on the island. In 2006, an earthquake weakened the station's foundation, causing it to be blown out to sea in a winter storm. Norway erected a new research station in 2014 that can hold six people for periods of two to four months.

Geographic coordinates: 54 26 S, 3 24 E

Map reference: Antarctic Region

Area
Total: 49 km²
Land: 49 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Country comparison total: 0 km

Land boundaries
Total: 0 km

Coastline: 29.6 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 4 nm

Climate: antarctic

Terrain: volcanic; coast is mostly inaccessible

Elevation
Highest point: Olavtoppen (Olav Peak) 780 m
Lowest point: South Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Natural resources: none

Land use
Agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 0% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land forest: 0% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land other: 100% (2018 est.)

Natural hazards: occasional volcanism, rock slides; harsh climate, surrounded by pack ice in winter

Geography
Note: almost entirely covered by glacial ice (93%); declared a nature reserve by Norway; the distance from Bouvet Island to Norway is 12,776 km, which is almost one-third the circumference of the earth

Population
Total: uninhabited

Environment
Current issues: none; almost entirely ice covered

Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Bouvet Island
Etymology: named after the French naval officer Jean-Baptiste Charles BOUVET who discovered the island in 1739
Note: pronounced boo-vay i-land

Legal system: the laws of Norway apply where applicable

Flag description: the flag of Norway is used

Exports
Partners: Singapore 76%, US 7%, Uzbekistan 5%, UK 2%, Brazil 1% (2022)
Partners note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Commodities: fish, tensile testing machines, jewelry, paper, garments (2022)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports
Partners: Singapore 72%, US 18%, Panama 3%, Indonesia 2%, Denmark 1% (2022)
Partners note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Commodities: aluminum structures, animal products, cement, air pumps, electrical transformers (2022)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars