SELECT EDITION
CATEGORIES
◆ COMMUNICATIONS(7 fields)
Defense note
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
Radios
NA
Telephone system
facilities for military needs only domestic: NA international: NA
Telephones
NA
Television broadcast stations
1
Televisions
NA Defense
◆ ECONOMY(2 fields)
Economic 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
provided by the US military
◆ GEOGRAPHY(15 fields)
Area
total area: 60 sq km land area: 60 sq km comparative area: about 0.5 times the size of Washington, DC note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago
Climate
tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds
Coastline
698 km
Environment
current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA
Geographic coordinates
6 00 S, 71 30 E
Geographic 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
International disputes
the island of Diego Garcia is claimed by Mauritius
Irrigated land
0 sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Location
Southern Asia, archipelago in the Indian Ocean, about one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia
Map references
World
Maritime claims
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Natural resources
coconuts, fish
Terrain
flat and low (up to four meters in elevation) lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m
◆ GOVERNMENT(9 fields)
Capital
none
Data code
IO
Diplomatic representation in US
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6 February 1952) is a hereditary monarch head of government: Commissioner David Ross MACLENNAN (since NA 1994); Administrator Don CAIRNS (since NA); note - both reside in the UK
Flag
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
Independence
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Name of country
conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory conventional short form: none abbreviation: BIOT
Type of government
dependent territory of the UK
US diplomatic representation
none (dependent territory of the UK)
◆ PEOPLE(1 fields)
Population
no indigenous inhabitants note: there are UK-US military personnel and civilian contractors; civilian inhabitants, known as the Ilois, evacuated to Mauritius before construction of UK-US military facilities
◆ TRANSPORTATION(4 fields)
Airports
total: 1 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1 (1995 est.)
Highways
total: NA km paved: short stretch of paved road of NA km between port and airfield on Diego Garcia unpaved: NA km
Ports
Diego Garcia
Railways
0 km