CIA WORLD FACTBOOK 1992 via the Libraries of the Univ. of Missouri-St. Louis
 
 Match 42   DB Rec# - 72,755  Dataset-WOFACT
 
Source        :CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY 
Source key    :CI 
Program       :WORLD FACTBOOK 
Program key   :CI WOFACT 
Update sched. :Annually         
ID number     :CI WOFACT 036              
Title         :Vital Statistics - BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY 
Data type     :TEXT 
End year      :1993
Date of record:01/22/1993
Country       : 
| BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY 
Text          : 
BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY 
(dependent territory of the UK) 
 
GEOGRAPHY 
Total area: 60 km2 
 
Land area: 60 km2; includes the island of Diego Garcia 
 
Comparative area: about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC 
 
Land boundaries: none 
 
Coastline: 698 km 
 
Maritime claims: 
 
Territorial sea: UK announced establishment of 200-nm fishery zone in 
August 1991 
 
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; island is site of joint US-UK military 
facility 

 
 
PEOPLE 
Population: no permanent civilian population; formerly about 3,000 
islanders 
 
Ethnic divisions: civilian inhabitants, known as the Ilois, evacuated to 
Mauritius before construction of UK and US defense facilities 
 
GOVERNMENT 
Long-form name: British Indian Ocean Territory (no short-form name); 
abbreviated BIOT 
 
Type: dependent territory of the UK 
 
Capital: none 
 
Leaders: 
 
Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) 
 
Head of Government: Commissioner Mr. T. G. HARRIS; Administrator Mr. R. 
G. WELLS (since NA 1991); note - both reside in the UK 
 
Diplomatic representation: 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 
 
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 and the US. There 
are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands. 
 
Electricity: provided by the US military 
 
COMMUNICATIONS 
Highways: short stretch of paved road between port and airfield on Diego 
Garcia 
 
Ports: Diego Garcia 
 
Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runways over 3,659 m on Diego Garcia 
 
Telecommunications: minimal facilities; broadcast stations (operated by 
US Navy) - 1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station 
 
DEFENSE FORCES 
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK 
 
 
 
 
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These files extracted from Dept. of Commerce's National Trade Databank (NTDB)
CD-ROM, SuDoc no. C 1.88:993/11 using software developed by RCM of the Univ.
of Missouri-St. Louis Libraries, 12/1/1993 :/ WF930041