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: 2026-07-06
⌕
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 13.950630
AAVE 0.011317
ADA 5.327133
AED 3.672500
AFN 63.578940
AGIX 12.817270
AKT 1.594385
ALGO 11.170985
ALL 81.971520
AMD 367.970214
AMP 2,241.946290
ANG 1.803341
AOA 918.394292
APE 7.133502
APT 1.598972
AR 0.500965
ARB 12.502395
ARS 1,492.564157
ATOM 0.632399
ATS 12.035957
AUD 1.443561
AVAX 0.144843
AWG 1.7900
AXS 0.990321
AZM 8,499.998831
AZN 1.700000
BAKE 1,330.855647
BAM 1.710739
BAT 11.354657
BBD 2.0000
BCH 0.004144
BDT 123.273495
BEF 35.284790
BGN 1.710739
BHD 0.3760
BIF 2,977.006827
BMD 1.0000
BNB 0.001711
BND 1.292507
BOB 6.927159
BRL 5.168084
BSD 1.0000
BSV 0.067731
BSW 2,987.796320
BTC 0.000016
BTCB 18.870075
BTG 3.465540
BTN 95.274841
BTT 3,770,582.109136
BUSD 0.999149
BWP 13.496731
BYN 2.903923
BYR 19,601.893387
BZD 2.014065
CAD 1.420980
CAKE 0.690552
CDF 2,307.242924
CELO 14.884519
CFX 22.351780
CHF 0.804440
CHZ 55.391297
CLP 921.199731
CNH 6.791375
CNY 6.788685
COMP 0.059668
COP 3,342.530396
CRC 455.686735
CRO 16.730189
CRV 4.677759
CSPR 514.900436
CUC 1.000096
CUP 26.502560
CVE 96.451747
CVX 0.831454
CYP 0.511932
CZK 21.155399
DAI 1.000473
DASH 0.028428
DCR 0.090087
DEM 1.710739
DFI 1,203.641957
DJF 178.092881
DKK 6.538212
DOGE 12.940253
DOP 59.266306
DOT 1.146343
DYDX 7.572115
DZD 132.993957
EEK 13.685914
EGLD 0.361811
EGP 49.121971
ENJ 34.553518
EOS 13.806056
ERN 15.0000
ESP 145.535689
ETB 159.955527
ETC 0.140799
ETH 0.000562
EUR 0.874687
EURC 0.875324
FEI 1.000355
FIL 1.266481
FIM 5.200653
FJD 2.245507
FKP 0.749475
FLOW 35.683370
FLR 143.865947
FRAX 1.010888
FRF 5.737571
FTT 4.198218
GALA 436.506635
GBP 0.749475
GEL 2.626546
GGP 0.749475
GHC 113,609.772418
GHS 11.360977
GIP 0.749475
GMD 73.744329
GMX 0.168746
GNF 8,767.538638
GNO 0.009512
GRD 298.049631
GRT 52.707773
GT 0.147505
GTQ 7.633047
GUSD 1.001320
GYD 209.315298
HBAR 13.243308
HKD 7.843040
HNL 26.772227
HNT 4.172950
HOT 2,771.143174
HRK 6.590330
HT 27.910511
HTG 130.894646
HUF 309.292047
ICP 0.453637
IDR 17,992.496980
IEP 0.688872
ILS 3.003664
IMP 0.749475
IMX 7.237806
INJ 0.204687
INR 95.274841
IQD 1,311.193881
IRR 1,376,082.918205
ISK 125.956293
ITL 1,693.630402
JEP 0.749475
JMD 158.422581
JOD 0.7090
JPY 161.849743
KAS 32.599461
KAVA 22.163690
KCS 0.138513
KDA 171.572374
KES 129.290834
KGS 87.464229
KHR 4,009.831360
KMF 430.317847
KNC 8.971106
KPW 900.087292
KRW 1,532.859825
KSM 0.283789
KWD 0.310299
KYD 0.831921
KZT 472.743036
LAK 22,609.046420
LBP 89,803.412552
LDO 3.701893
LEO 0.106841
LINK 0.125234
LKR 334.895139
LRC 81.389691
LRD 181.623967
LSL 16.253789
LTC 0.022153
LTL 3.020120
LUF 35.284790
LUNA 20.362908
LUNC 16,287.926683
LVL 0.614730
LYD 6.414367
MAD 9.363645
MANA 14.371362
MBX 39.762070
MDL 17.601125
MGA 4,243.527226
MGF 21,217.636131
MINA 21.093162
MKD 53.882251
MKR 0.000698
MMK 2,099.326610
MNT 3,584.138525
MOP 8.078331
MRO 399.370321
MRU 39.937032
MTL 0.375503
MUR 47.006676
MVR 15.459388
MWK 1,734.636307
MXN 17.479319
MXV 1.981992
MYR 4.077259
MZM 63,866.504122
MZN 63.866504
NAD 16.253789
NEAR 0.501889
NEO 0.505559
NEXO 1.299884
NFT 3,773,296.319898
NGN 1,370.279231
NIO 36.810868
NLG 1.927557
NOK 9.836427
NPR 152.511202
NZD 1.757652
OKB 0.012537
OMR 0.384879
ONE 800.051954
OP 9.301689
ORDI 0.308057
PAB 1.0000
PAXG 0.000241
PEN 3.405283
PEPE 366,628.435995
PGK 4.399289
PHP 61.512903
PI 8.839892
PKR 278.209739
PLN 3.754735
POL 13.597619
PTE 175.359020
PYG 6,082.627428
QAR 3.6400
QNT 0.014936
QTUM 1.406778
ROL 45,711.231954
RON 4.571123
RPL 0.493905
RSD 102.593777
RUB 77.057670
RUNE 2.418019
RVN 262.390722
RWF 1,465.870916
SAND 20.042724
SAR 3.7500
SBD 8.092060
SCR 14.289795
SDD 60,024.521535
SDG 600.245215
SEK 9.652834
SGD 1.292507
SHIB 228,400.138737
SHP 0.749475
SIT 209.610018
SKK 26.350824
SLE 22.839950
SLL 22,839.950337
SNX 4.367068
SOL 0.012394
SOS 571.040734
SPL 0.166667
SRD 37.644618
SRG 37,644.617724
SSP 4,749.185936
STD 21,588.853695
STN 21.588854
STX 5.848097
SUI 1.338519
SVC 8.7500
SYP 110.542775
SZL 16.253789
THB 33.240277
THETA 7.128330
TJS 9.269283
TMM 17,545.951612
TMT 3.509190
TND 2.947938
TOP 2.408308
TRL 46,815,446.671939
TRX 3.045039
TRY 46.815447
TTD 6.775986
TUSD 1.002095
TVD 1.443561
TWD 32.090240
TWT 2.908916
TZS 2,627.608966
UAH 44.565591
UGX 3,654.515521
UNI 0.316411
USDC 1.000309
USDD 1.001016
USDP 1.003025
USDT 1.001079
UYU 40.249065
UZS 11,967.797392
VAL 1,693.630402
VEB 64,443,853,069.9266
VED 644.381156
VEF 64,438,115.649308
VES 644.381156
VET 211.978285
VND 26,300.210722
VUV 120.191928
WAVES 3.763226
WEMIX 3.862542
WOO 84.455250
WST 2.765812
XAF 573.757130
XAG 0.016196
XAU 0.000240
XAUT 0.000241
XBT 0.000016
XCD 2.706874
XCG 1.803341
XCH 0.634522
XDC 35.589116
XDR 0.737587
XEC 188,256.243324
XEM 2,335.947295
XLM 5.009052
XMR 0.003090
XOF 573.757130
XPD 0.000787
XPF 104.377936
XPT 0.000611
XRP 0.873538
XTZ 4.018880
YER 236.993438
ZAR 16.253789
ZEC 0.002196
ZIL 324.170048
ZMK 18,349.309494
ZMW 18.349309
ZWD 361.9000
ZWG 26.823578
ZWL 67,024.723751

No currencies match your search.

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.