_#Defense expenditures: $1.1 billion, 2.6% of GDP (1990) % @British Indian Ocean Territory (dependent territory of the UK) *Geography #_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
_*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 and Administrator R. EDIS (since NA 1988); note—resides in the UK
_#_Diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the 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; stations (operated by the US Navy)—1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
_*Defense Forces #Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK % @British Virgin Islands (dependent territory of the UK) *Geography #_Total area: 150 km2; land area: 150 km2
_#_Comparative area: about 0.8 times the size of Washington, DC
_#_Coastline: 80 km
_#_Maritime claims:
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;
Territorial sea: 3 nm
_#_Climate: subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
_#_Terrain: coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
_#_Natural resources: negligible
_#_Land use: arable land 20%; permanent crops 7%; meadows and pastures 33%; forest and woodland 7%; other 33%
_#_Environment: subject to hurricanes and tropical storms from July to October
_#_Note: strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
_*People #_Population: 12,396 (July 1991), growth rate 1.1% (1991)
_#_Birth rate: 19 births/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Death rate: 5 deaths/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Net migration rate: - 3 migrants/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Infant mortality rate: 14 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)
_#_Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 77 years female (1991)
_#_Total fertility rate: 2.1 children born/woman (1991)
_#_Nationality: noun—British Virgin Islander(s); adjective—British Virgin Islander
_#_Ethnic divisions: black over 90%, remainder of white and Asian origin
_#_Religion: Protestant 86% (Methodist 45%, Anglican 21%, Church of God 7%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 2%), Roman Catholic 6%, none 2%, other 6% (1981)
_#_Language: English (official)
_#_Literacy: 98% (male 98%, female 98%) age 15 and over can read and write (1970)
_#_Labor force: 4,911 (1980)
_#_Organized labor: NA% of labor force
_*Government #_Long-form name: none
_#_Type: dependent territory of the UK
_#_Capital: Road Town
_#_Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
_#_Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)
_#_Constitution: 1 June 1977
_#_Legal system: English law
_#_National holiday: Territory Day, 1 July
_#_Executive branch: British monarch, governor, chief minister, Executive Council (cabinet)
_#_Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council
_#_Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
_#_Leaders:
Chief of State—Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor John Mark Ambrose HERDMAN (since NA 1986);
Head of Government—Chief Minister H. Lavity STOUTT (since NA 1986)
_#_Political parties and leaders:
United Party (UP), Conrad MADURO;
Virgin Islands Party (VIP), H. Lavity STOUTT;
Independent People's Movement (IPM), Cyril B. ROMNEY
_#_Suffrage: universal at age 18
_#_Elections:
Legislative Council—last held 12 November 1990 (next to be held by November 1995); results—percent of vote by party NA; seats—(9 total) VIP 6, IPM 1, independent 2
_#_Communists: probably none
_#_Member of: CARICOM (observer), CDB, ECLAC (associate), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate)
_#_Diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)
_#_Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful)
_*Economy #_Overview: The economy is highly dependent on the tourist industry, which generates about 21% of the national income. In 1985 the government offered offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and, in consequence, incorporation fees generated about $2 million in 1987. Livestock