Africa · Eastern Africa

British Indian Ocean Territory

Flag of British Indian Ocean Territory
Local Time
--:--:--
UTC+06:00
🏛️ Capital
Diego Garcia
👥 Population
N/A
📐 Area
60 km²
💱 Currency
United States dollar ($)
🗣️ Languages
English
📞 Calling Code
+246
🕐 Time Zones
UTC+06:00
🌐 Region
Africa / Eastern Africa

About British Indian Ocean Territory

The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) is one of the world's most restricted and remote places — a scattered archipelago of over 1,000 islands and islets in the central Indian Ocean, most of which form the Chagos Archipelago. The territory is dominated by Diego Garcia, a large coral atoll that serves as a joint UK-US military base and is entirely off-limits to the general public. The surrounding outer islands are likewise inaccessible to tourists, making BIOT one of the least-visited places on Earth.

What lies beneath and around this restricted territory is extraordinary: some of the most pristine coral reefs remaining anywhere in the world. The Chagos Marine Protected Area, established in 2010, encompasses over 500,000 square kilometres of ocean and protects one of the planet's last large-scale intact reef systems. Researchers and conservation scientists who have been granted access describe underwater ecosystems of staggering health — coral gardens untouched by fishing or tourism, with sharks, rays, and turtles in remarkable abundance.

The territory's history is shadowed by controversy: the entire indigenous Chagossian population was forcibly displaced by the British government between 1968 and 1973 to make way for the military base, a removal whose legality and morality has been fiercely contested in international courts for decades. The question of sovereignty and the right of return for Chagossian descendants remains a deeply live political issue.

History & Background

The Chagos Archipelago was uninhabited when French colonizers arrived in the 18th century, establishing coconut oil plantations worked by enslaved Africans and later indentured laborers from India. Britain gained control after the Napoleonic Wars, and the islands became part of Mauritius colony. In 1965, Britain carved out the Chagos Islands from Mauritius (then still a colony about to gain independence) to form the new British Indian Ocean Territory, a move that Mauritius contested.

Between 1968 and 1973, the British government secretly and forcibly removed all 1,500–2,000 Chagossian residents to make way for the Diego Garcia base. This displacement was kept quiet for years and was eventually exposed as a profound violation of the residents' rights. Despite a series of UK court rulings finding the expulsion unlawful, successive British governments have prevented resettlement. In 2019, the International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion stating that Britain's separation of the Chagos Islands from Mauritius was illegal.

Culture & People

The British Indian Ocean Territory has no permanent civilian population today, but it carries the cultural memory of the Chagossian people — a Creole-speaking community of mixed African, Malagasy, and Indian descent who had lived on the islands since the 18th century, working on coconut plantations. Their culture, language (Chagossian Creole), music, and food traditions developed in relative isolation on the islands they called home for generations.

After their forced removal to Mauritius and the Seychelles in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Chagossian diaspora has maintained their cultural identity with remarkable tenacity, advocating globally for their right to return. Their sega music, which blends African rhythms with Creole lyrics, and their oral traditions of life on the islands are preserved and performed by community groups. The Chagossian cause has become emblematic of colonial displacement and the rights of small island peoples — an important story that any serious engagement with the British Indian Ocean Territory must include.

Food & Cuisine

The British Indian Ocean Territory has no civilian population, no restaurants, and no food culture accessible to visitors — the only people present are military personnel and support staff at Diego Garcia, who rely entirely on imported and supplied provisions.

The culinary legacy of the territory belongs to the displaced Chagossian community, whose traditional cuisine blended Indian Ocean Creole influences: rice and lentil dishes, fresh fish grilled or cooked in coconut milk, octopus curry, pickled breadfruit, and sweet coconut confections. Dishes like rougaille (a spiced tomato sauce) and vindaye (pickled fish or meat) reflect the French Creole foundation. Today, Chagossian food traditions are kept alive in Mauritius and the Seychelles by the diaspora community, maintaining a culinary heritage tied to islands they are forbidden from returning to.

Top Attractions

  • Chagos Marine Protected Area — One of the world's largest and most pristine marine reserves, covering over 500,000 sq km and protecting extraordinary coral reef ecosystems.
  • Diego Garcia Atoll — A large V-shaped coral atoll with a vast sheltered lagoon, now home to a major UK-US military installation.
  • Peros Banhos Atoll — A remote atoll in the northern Chagos with extraordinary reef health and some of the clearest water in the Indian Ocean.
  • Salomon Atoll — A pristine ring of small islands enclosing a sheltered lagoon, renowned among the small number of scientific divers who have accessed it.

Practical Travel Tips

  • The British Indian Ocean Territory is closed to civilian visitors — no tourism permits or entry visas are issued to the general public.
  • Diego Garcia is a restricted military installation and is inaccessible to anyone without official military or government authorization.
  • The Chagos Archipelago has been the subject of major international legal proceedings — follow reputable news sources for developments on sovereignty and access.
  • The nearest accessible destinations with similar marine environments are the Maldives, Seychelles, and Mauritius.
  • Conservation organizations working on Chagos reef protection welcome donations and advocacy support for the territory's marine protected area.

Visa Overview

No tourist visas are issued for the British Indian Ocean Territory. The territory is a restricted military zone and no civilian entry is permitted without specific authorization from the British Indian Ocean Territory Administration in London. Any vessel transiting the area must avoid the Diego Garcia zone. The outer islands of the Chagos Archipelago are designated as a Marine Protected Area with access strictly controlled by the administration. Unauthorized entry is illegal under British law.

Getting Around

There are no civilian transport links to the British Indian Ocean Territory. The only access is via military flights to Diego Garcia, available solely to authorized military and government personnel. In the past, a very limited number of sailing permits were issued for yachts to anchor at specific outer atolls, but these have been increasingly restricted. The territory lies approximately 1,600 km south of India and 1,000 km from the Maldives, placing it far from any civilian maritime routes.

Safety Notes

Unauthorized presence in the British Indian Ocean Territory is illegal and can result in vessel seizure and detention. The territory is a live military environment and vessels approaching Diego Garcia's exclusion zone are subject to interception. Beyond the legal risks, the remote location means that any emergency would face extremely limited response capability. The Indian Ocean in this region can experience severe weather during monsoon season, and the closest civilian rescue services are thousands of kilometres away.

Live Exchange Rates

Current exchange rates for currencies used in British Indian Ocean Territory.

United States dollar (USD) $
Updated: 2026-08-20
⌕
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 11.555254
AAVE 0.010450
ADA 5.371631
AED 3.672500
AFN 65.450761
AGIX 17.574270
AKT 1.945203
ALGO 12.147403
ALL 79.344316
AMD 362.994612
AMP 2,606.802123
ANG 1.791217
AOA 918.384380
APE 7.775989
APT 1.787659
AR 0.538027
ARB 11.433244
ARS 1,497.080058
ATOM 0.670092
ATS 11.779683
AUD 1.406813
AVAX 0.147625
AWG 1.7900
AXS 1.109449
AZM 8,499.797678
AZN 1.699960
BAKE 1,437.603313
BAM 1.674314
BAT 15.992863
BBD 2.0000
BCH 0.004734
BDT 121.677138
BEF 34.533494
BGN 1.674314
BHD 0.3760
BIF 2,974.326643
BMD 1.0000
BNB 0.001600
BND 1.271533
BOB 11.485928
BRL 5.178466
BSD 1.0000
BSV 0.062456
BSW 2,759.312242
BTC 0.000014
BTCB 16.894799
BTG 2.278977
BTN 95.621367
BTT 3,675,620.902701
BUSD 0.999336
BWP 13.450797
BYN 3.023506
BYR 19,597.095715
BZD 2.008664
CAD 1.380260
CAKE 0.620530
CDF 2,292.408634
CELO 15.979044
CFX 22.831611
CHF 0.798687
CHZ 78.226897
CLP 921.580160
CNH 6.725420
CNY 6.725761
COMP 0.054263
COP 3,052.786583
CRC 450.210527
CRO 20.068711
CRV 3.832782
CSPR 374.421436
CUC 0.999852
CUP 26.496073
CVE 94.398062
CVX 0.618215
CYP 0.501031
CZK 20.690689
DAI 0.999878
DASH 0.031470
DCR 0.084644
DEM 1.674314
DFI 1,004.974741
DJF 177.611323
DKK 6.399739
DOGE 13.319776
DOP 58.402545
DOT 1.263463
DYDX 9.090623
DZD 132.714029
EEK 13.394509
EGLD 0.352002
EGP 50.651537
ENJ 39.519286
EOS 15.151823
ERN 15.0000
ESP 142.436891
ETB 162.515815
ETC 0.151574
ETH 0.000443
EUR 0.856063
EURC 0.862133
FEI 0.998734
FIL 1.485464
FIM 5.089919
FJD 2.200360
FKP 0.734938
FLOW 34.586685
FLR 155.529100
FRAX 1.008539
FRF 5.615405
FTT 4.817946
GALA 693.993083
GBP 0.734938
GEL 2.605406
GGP 0.734938
GHC 110,653.054746
GHS 11.065305
GIP 0.734938
GMD 74.104008
GMX 0.146973
GNF 8,775.689975
GNO 0.008250
GRD 291.703452
GRT 71.469540
GT 0.143689
GTQ 7.611527
GUSD 1.001646
GYD 208.005288
HBAR 14.110089
HKD 7.842062
HNL 26.734215
HNT 5.769368
HOT 2,961.236423
HRK 6.450006
HT 8.805331
HTG 130.062356
HUF 311.531712
ICP 0.431191
IDR 17,801.940000
IEP 0.674204
ILS 2.978402
IMP 0.734938
IMX 9.558630
INJ 0.215291
INR 95.621367
IQD 1,302.442417
IRR 1,374,396.314780
ISK 121.741364
ITL 1,657.569020
JEP 0.734938
JMD 157.093236
JOD 0.7090
JPY 158.356070
KAS 37.502076
KAVA 24.295013
KCS 0.137091
KDA 212.967797
KES 129.442092
KGS 87.544236
KHR 4,027.387541
KLAY 40.683642
KMF 421.155366
KNC 9.449599
KPW 899.866934
KRW 1,393.605191
KSM 0.324778
KWD 0.308244
KYD 0.830694
KZT 461.272554
LAK 22,419.197457
LBP 89,383.425269
LDO 2.951225
LEO 0.107547
LINK 0.095410
LKR 329.042820
LRC 125.698640
LRD 181.061503
LSL 16.100722
LTC 0.021286
LTL 2.955814
LUF 34.533494
LUNA 22.616669
LUNC 19,793.444331
LVL 0.601641
LYD 6.327750
MAD 9.254650
MANA 14.916370
MBX 48.356810
MDL 17.141989
MGA 4,283.176646
MGF 21,415.883228
MINA 23.400325
MKD 52.797242
MKR 0.000688
MMK 2,099.454459
MNT 3,597.417315
MOP 8.077323
MRO 398.281707
MRU 39.828171
MTL 0.367508
MUR 46.969973
MVR 15.458706
MWK 1,726.052545
MXN 16.947604
MXV 1.934569
MYR 4.042777
MZM 63,814.327031
MZN 63.814327
NAD 16.100722
NEAR 0.573599
NEO 0.549403
NEXO 1.339110
NFT 3,550,700.294628
NGN 1,346.700351
NIO 36.692095
NLG 1.886515
NOK 9.328023
NPR 153.065903
NZD 1.682313
OKB 0.009767
OMR 0.384894
ONE 1,386.056917
OP 11.259076
ORDI 0.271630
PAB 1.0000
PAXG 0.000223
PEN 3.350757
PEPE 345,210.526001
PGK 4.489492
PHP 61.618714
PI 11.127719
PKR 276.447221
PLN 3.697216
POL 12.250513
PTE 171.625214
PYG 5,983.611060
QAR 3.6400
QNT 0.016923
QTUM 1.385384
ROL 44,912.321789
RON 4.491232
RPL 0.643046
RSD 100.456983
RUB 83.990464
RUNE 2.344598
RVN 383.601985
RWF 1,466.367293
SAND 24.210443
SAR 3.7500
SBD 8.000366
SCR 14.505660
SDD 60,016.249642
SDG 600.162496
SEK 9.437343
SGD 1.271533
SHIB 211,050.583097
SHP 0.734938
SIT 205.146927
SKK 25.789753
SLE 22.912432
SLL 22,912.431961
SNX 4.878549
SOL 0.011787
SOS 567.129907
SPL 0.166667
SRD 37.805496
SRG 37,805.496125
SSP 5,668.963236
STD 21,110.367185
STN 21.110367
STX 7.666112
SUI 1.416952
SVC 8.7500
SYP 13,000.073299
SZL 16.100722
THB 32.833909
THETA 6.653331
TJS 9.172467
TMM 17,496.345461
TMT 3.499269
TND 2.898073
TOP 2.382134
TRL 47,954,513.000142
TRX 2.993772
TRY 47.954513
TTD 6.759770
TUSD 1.001502
TVD 1.406813
TWD 31.836833
TWT 2.500443
TZS 2,646.746810
UAH 44.662809
UGX 3,715.529442
UNI 0.273090
USDC 0.999777
USDD 1.000446
USDP 1.001057
USDT 1.000372
UYU 40.010426
UZS 11,745.328284
VAL 1,657.569020
VEB 77,626,985,526.2913
VED 774.531202
VEF 77,453,120.170545
VES 774.531202
VET 206.020162
VND 26,122.545429
VUV 118.279242
WAVES 5.070947
WEMIX 5.167125
WOO 90.657262
WST 2.693161
XAF 561.540488
XAG 0.014948
XAU 0.000222
XAUT 0.000223
XBT 0.000014
XCD 2.706940
XCG 1.791217
XCH 0.705858
XDC 35.949358
XDR 0.730264
XEC 142,620.058617
XEM 2,135.903194
XLM 5.822252
XMR 0.002341
XOF 561.540488
XPD 0.000752
XPF 102.155484
XPT 0.000554
XRP 0.901210
XTZ 4.590450
YER 237.071005
ZAR 16.100722
ZEC 0.001782
ZIL 411.392369
ZMK 18,732.951314
ZMW 18.732951
ZWD 361.9000
ZWG 26.670313
ZWL 66,641.756351

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Cities in British Indian Ocean Territory 121
Browse all cities and towns
Adityana Adivivaram Akkayapalle Anklesvar INA Badarpur Railway Town Bade Bacheli Bag-e-Firdosh Bagbahara Bahbari Gaon Bambolim Bamun Sualkuchi Bar Bigha Bariapur Belampalli Bemetra Betora Bharuch INA Billimora Biswanath Chariali Bombuflat Bombuflat Bongaigaon Petro-chemical Town Borgolai Bugganipalle Calapor Carapur Chandrapur Bagicha Chatakonda Chekonidhara Chemmumiahpet Chidiga Chinagantyada Choto Haibor Copenhagen Davorlim Digboi Oil Town Dimaruguri Dinapur Cantonment Diu Doman Hill Colliery Dommara Nandyal Dongragarh Donkamokan Dowlaiswaram Duliagaon East Godavari Dist. Ekambara kuppam Fakirtakya Frezarpur Garimellapadu Gogri Jamalpur Hauraghat Hukumpeta Jaggayyapeta Jagiroad Paper Mill Jallaram Kamanpur Jamhaur Jashpurnagar Jhagrakhand Jonai Bazar Kaikalur Kampur Town Kantabamsuguda Khamhria Khanapuram Haveli Kharijapikon Khonga Pani Kirandu Kochpara Kondapalem Kondukur Kovurpalle Kumar Kaibarta Gaon Lauthaha Lido Tikok Lingiyadih Loutulim Lumding Railway Colony Mahnar Bazar Mancheral Mothugudam Nailajanjgir Namna Kalan Naubaisa Gaon New Bongaigaon Railway Colony New Delhi Niz-Hajo Omerkhan daira Palempalle Palkonda Palmaner Pandariya Parasamba Payakaraopet Phunderdihari Pothinamallayyapalem Prasadampadu Prasantinilayam Queula Rajgamar Ravulapalam Rayadrug Rishikonda Sakti Sarupathar Bengali Serilungampalle Shivrinarayan Silchar Part-X Sirgiti Sriramsagar Srisailamgudem Devasthanam Suriapet Tildanewra Tirvuru Ukkayapalli Uttar Krishnapur Part-I Vaparala Vemalwada Waris Aliganj West Godavari Dist. Yenamalakudru

Visa Requirements

Check what visa a citizen of British Indian Ocean Territory needs to enter any country.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the capital of British Indian Ocean Territory?
The capital of British Indian Ocean Territory is Diego Garcia.
What currency does British Indian Ocean Territory use?
British Indian Ocean Territory uses the United States dollar ($) as its official currency.
What language is spoken in British Indian Ocean Territory?
The official language(s) of British Indian Ocean Territory include English.
What is the population of British Indian Ocean Territory?
British Indian Ocean Territory has a population of approximately N/A people.
What region is British Indian Ocean Territory in?
British Indian Ocean Territory is located in Africa, specifically in the Eastern Africa subregion.
What is the international calling code for British Indian Ocean Territory?
The international dialing code for British Indian Ocean Territory is +246.
What time zones does British Indian Ocean Territory observe?
British Indian Ocean Territory observes the following time zone(s): UTC+06:00.
What is the current time in British Indian Ocean Territory?
The local time in British Indian Ocean Territory is currently --:--. This time applies to the primary time zone.
What is the total area of British Indian Ocean Territory?
British Indian Ocean Territory covers a total area of 60 km².
How many states or provinces does British Indian Ocean Territory have?
British Indian Ocean Territory is divided into 2 states or provinces.
What are the public holidays in British Indian Ocean Territory in 2026?
You can view the complete list of public holidays for British Indian Ocean Territory in 2026 on the Holidays 2026 page.
What are the visa requirements for citizens of British Indian Ocean Territory?
Visa requirements for citizens of British Indian Ocean Territory vary by destination. Use our Visa Requirements Checker below to look up requirements for any destination country.