ARCHIVE // IO // 1995

British Indian Ocean Territory

1995 Edition — territory

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Communications
Broadcast media (Radio) [time series]
broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 radios: NA
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
NA telephones; minimal facilities local: NA intercity: NA international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
Broadcast media (Television) [time series]
broadcast stations: 1 televisions: NA
Defense Forces
Note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of the UK BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS (dependent territory of the UK)
Economy
Electricity [time series]
provided by the US military
Economic overview (Overview) [time series]
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.
Geography
Area [time series]
total area: 60 sq km land area: 60 sq km comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC note: includes the island of Diego Garcia
Climate [time series]
tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds
Coastline [time series]
698 km
Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]
current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA
Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]
the entire Chagos Archipelago is claimed by Mauritius
Irrigated land [time series]
0 sq km
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Location [time series]
Southern Asia, archipelago in the Indian Ocean, about one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia
Map references [time series]
World
Maritime claims [time series]
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Natural resources [time series]
coconuts, fish
Note [time series]
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
Terrain [time series]
flat and low (up to 4 meters in elevation)
Government
Abbreviation [time series]
BIOT
Capital [time series]
none
Digraph [time series]
IO
Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Commissioner Mr. D. R. MACLENNAN); Administrator Mr. David Smith; note - both reside in the UK
Flag [time series]
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 [time series]
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Country name (Names) [time series]
conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory conventional short form: none
Government type (Type) [time series]
dependent territory of the UK
Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]
none (dependent territory of the UK)
People
Population [time series]
no indigenous inhabitants note: there are UK-US military personnel; civilian inhabitants, known as the Ilois, evacuated to Mauritius before construction of UK-US military facilities
Transportation
Airports [time series]
total: 1 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1
Roadways (Highways) [time series]
total: NA paved: short stretch of paved road between port and airfield on Diego Garcia unpaved: NA
Ports [time series]
Diego Garcia
Railways (Railroads) [time series]
0 km