SELECT EDITION
CATEGORIES
◆ COMMUNICATIONS(7 fields)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
NA
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios
NA
Telephone system
separate facilities for military and public needs are available domestic: all commercial telephone services are available, including connection to the Internet international: international telephone service is carried by satellite (2000)
Telephones - main lines in use
NA
Television broadcast stations
1 (1997)
Televisions
NA
◆ ECONOMY(3 fields)
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 - consumption
NA kWh
Electricity - production
NA kWh note: electricity supplied by the US military
◆ GEOGRAPHY(17 fields)
Area
total: 60 sq km land: 60 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago
Area - comparative
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds
Coastline
698 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m
Environment - current issues
NA
Geographic coordinates
6 00 S, 71 30 E
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
Irrigated land
0 sq km (1993)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: NA% other: NA%
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 hazards
NA
Natural resources
coconuts, fish
Terrain
flat and low (most areas do not exceed four meters in elevation)
◆ GOVERNMENT(8 fields)
Country name
conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory conventional short form: none abbreviation: BIOT
Data code
IO
Dependency status
overseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner, resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head 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 monarch is hereditary; commissioner and administrator appointed by the monarch
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 centered on the outer half of the flag
Legal system
NA
◆ MILITARY(1 fields)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the UK; the US lease on Diego Garcia expires in 2016
◆ PEOPLE(1 fields)
Population
no indigenous inhabitants note: approximately 3,000 native inhabitants, known as the Chagosians or Ilois, were evacuated to Mauritius before construction of UK-US military facilities; in 1995, there were approximately 1,700 UK and US military personnel and 1,500 civilian contractors living on the island (July 2000 est.)
◆ TRANSNATIONAL ISSUES(1 fields)
Disputes - international
the Chagos Archipelago is claimed by Mauritius and Seychelles [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]
◆ TRANSPORTATION(4 fields)
Airports
1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1999 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 and harbors
Diego Garcia