Location: Southern Asia, 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 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

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 sq km

Environment:
current issues: NA
natural hazards: NA
international agreements: NA

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

NOTE: The information regarding British Indian Ocean Territory on this page is re-published from the 1995 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of British Indian Ocean Territory Geography 1995 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about British Indian Ocean Territory Geography 1995 should be addressed to the CIA.