Total area: 60 km2
land area: 60 km2

Comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 698 km

Maritime claims:
Territorial sea: 3 nm

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%

Environment: archipelago of 2,300 islands

Note: Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean

NOTE: The information regarding British Indian Ocean Territory on this page is re-published from the 1991 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of British Indian Ocean Territory Geography 1991 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about British Indian Ocean Territory Geography 1991 should be addressed to the CIA.