sts and woodland: NA%

other: NA%

Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment - current issues: NA

Geography - 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

British Indian Ocean Territory People

Population: no indigenous inhabitants

note: approximately 1,200 former agricultural workers resident in
the Chagos Archipelago, often referred to as Chagossians or Ilois,
were relocated to Mauritius and the Seychelles around the time of
the construction of UK-US military facilities; in 1995, there were
approximately 1,700 UK and US military personnel and 1,500 civilian
contractors living on the island of Diego Garcia

British Indian Ocean Territory Government

Country name: conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory

conventional short form: none

abbreviation: BIOT

Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK; administered by a
commissioner, resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in
London

Legal system: the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply

Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6
February 1952)

head of government: Commissioner John WHITE (since NA);
Administrator Louise SAVILL (since NA); note - both reside in the UK

cabinet: NA

elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; commissioner and
administrator appointed by the monarch

Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the
UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas territory of
the UK)

Flag description: white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the
flag of the UK is in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped
section bears a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the outer
half of the flag

British Indian Ocean Territory Economy

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, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There
are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands. When
the Ilois return, they plan to reestablish sugarcane production and
fishing.

Electricity - production: NA kWh; note - electric