Country Profile: British Indian Ocean Territory

The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom, established in 1965 and consisting mainly of the Chagos Archipelago. The largest and only inhabited island, Diego Garcia, hosts a significant joint UK-US military base. The territory's strategic location in the Indian Ocean, combined with a minimal population primarily associated with military operations, shapes its economic and governance framework. The region faces ongoing legal and historical disputes related to the displacement of its former residents, the Chagossians.

Geography

The British Indian Ocean Territory is an archipelago located in the Indian Ocean, south of India and roughly midway between Africa and Indonesia. The territory covers an area of 60 square kilometers, primarily consisting of flat, low coral atolls, with Diego Garcia being the most significant island. The climate is tropical marine, featuring hot, humid conditions moderated by trade winds.

60 sq km total area
698 km coastline
200 nm marine reserve zone
0 m lowest elevation (Indian Ocean)
9 m highest elevation (ocean-side dunes on Diego Garcia)

People and Society

Diego Garcia is the only inhabited island within the BIOT; however, the territory has no permanent inhabitants. The presence of military personnel and support staff shapes the demographic landscape, but the Chagossian population, previously residing in the islands, has been largely displaced since the early 1970s.

0 permanent inhabitants currently
1971-1982 period of displacement for former residents

Economy

The economy of the British Indian Ocean Territory is small and predominantly revolves around the military base located on Diego Garcia. Economic activities have expanded recently due to legal settlements with Mauritius that have increased oil exports. The territory also hosts a marine reserve that restricts commercial fishing.

86% of exports go to Singapore
1% of exports are fish (2023)
52% of imports come from Greece
US dollar is the currency used

Government

The British Indian Ocean Territory is administered as an overseas territory of the UK, governed by a commissioner based in London. The legal framework is derived from British law, and any governance decisions are guided by UK policies. The territory's chief of state is King Charles III.

Nishi Dholakia is the current commissioner (since December 2024)
2004 Constitution Order in effect
UTC+6 time zone

Military and Security

There are no regular military forces stationed in the British Indian Ocean Territory. Instead, defense responsibilities lie with the UK, which maintains control over the joint military base in Diego Garcia. Future governance may change as recent agreements are set to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius.

99 years lease agreement for Diego Garcia signed in May 2025

Transportation

The British Indian Ocean Territory has limited transportation facilities, with one airport and a small port facilitating military and logistic operations.

1 airport (2025)
1 port, located on Diego Garcia

Communications

Communication infrastructure mainly caters to military personnel stationed on the islands. The Armed Forces Radio and Television Service provides broadcasting services, and the territory hosts one of the key ground antennas for the Global Positioning System (GPS).

.io is the internet country code
3 frequencies for Armed Forces Radio and Television Service

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Area	60 sq km	Total area of the territory
Coastline	698 km	Length of the coastline
Population	0	No permanent inhabitants
Exports (to Singapore)	86%	Major export partner (2023)
Imports (from Greece)	52%	Major import partner (2023)
Climate	Tropical marine	Dominant climate type
Military Presence	None	UK is responsible for defense
Lease Agreement	99 years	Signed in May 2025
Number of Airports	1	Only airport on territory
Number of Ports	1	Key port on Diego Garcia