*British Indian Ocean Territory, Geography

Location:
  in the Indian Ocean, south of India about halfway between Africa and
  Indonesia
Map references:
  Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  60 km2
 land area:
  60 km2
 comparative area:
  about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
 note:
  includes the island of Diego Garcia
Land boundaries:
  0 km
Coastline:   698 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  3 nm
International disputes:
  the entire Chagos Archipelago is claimed by Mauritius
Climate:
  tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds
Terrain:
  flat and low (up to 4 meters in elevation)
Natural resources:
  coconuts, fish
Land use:
 arable land:
  0%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  0%
 forest and woodland:
  0%
 other:
  100%
Irrigated land:
  0 km2
Environment:
  archipelago of 2,300 islands
Note:
  Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location
  in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility

*British Indian Ocean Territory, People

Population:
  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

*British Indian Ocean Territory, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  British Indian Ocean Territory
 conventional short form:
  none
Abbreviation:
  BIOT
Digraph:   IO
Type:
  dependent territory of the UK
Capital:
  none
Independence:
  none (dependent territory of the UK)
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
 Head of Government:
  Commissioner Mr. T. G. HARRIS (since NA); Administrator Mr. R. G. WELLS
  (since NA 1991); note - both reside in the UK
Diplomatic representation in US:
  none (dependent territory of 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

*British Indian Ocean Territory, 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:
  provided by the US military

*British Indian Ocean Territory, Communications

Highways:
  short stretch of paved road between port and airfield on Diego Garcia
Ports:
  Diego Garcia
Airports:
 total:
  1
 usable:
  1
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  1 on Diego Garcia
 with runways 2,439-3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 1,229-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  minimal facilities; broadcast stations (operated by US Navy) - 1 AM, 1 FM, 1
  TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

*British Indian Ocean Territory, Defense Forces

Note:
  defense is the responsibility of the UK