Country Profile: Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is the third-largest ocean basin, situated between Africa, the Southern Ocean, Asia, and Australia. It encompasses an area of approximately 70.56 million square kilometers, making it almost seven times larger than the United States. The ocean is rich in resources, hosting important fisheries and oil fields, contributing significantly to the economies of surrounding regions. Governed by various treaties and international organizations, the Indian Ocean is also vital for global trade, featuring key chokepoints like the Suez Canal and the Strait of Hormuz.

Geography

The Indian Ocean is characterized by its vast area of 70.56 million square kilometers and a coastline of 66,526 kilometers. It features a complex bathymetry, including mid-ocean ridges, trenches, and continental shelves. The ocean experiences monsoonal climates, with distinct northeast and southwest monsoons influencing weather patterns.

264 million cu km: Total ocean volume.
19.8%: Share of the World Ocean's total volume.
-7,192 m: Deepest point at the Java Trench.
200 m: Depth at which sunlight penetrates to the ocean.
Major ocean currents include the Indian Ocean Gyre and distinct annual reversals.

Environment

The Indian Ocean faces significant environmental challenges, including marine pollution from dumping and oil spills, particularly in regions like the Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf. Coral reefs are threatened, and biodiversity loss is a growing concern. The ocean's fisheries accounted for 15.5% of the global catch in 2020, making them critically important.

15.5%: Contribution to the global fish catch in 2020.
12,220,000 mt: Total global catch from Indian Ocean fisheries in 2020.
Major fish species include tuna, small pelagic fish, and shrimp.
8.4%: Contribution from the Eastern Indian Ocean region, the fifth-largest fishing area in the world.
The Western Indian Ocean region produced over 7.1% of the global catch.

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Area	70.56 million sq km	Total area of the Indian Ocean
Coastline	66,526 km	Total length of the coastline
Ocean Volume	264 million cu km	Total volume of the Indian Ocean
Deepest Point	-7,192 m	Java Trench
Marine Fisheries	12,220,000 mt	Total catch in 2020
Fish Contribution	15.5%	Of the global fish catch in 2020