Flag of British Indian Ocean Territory
territoryThe flag of British Indian Ocean Territory was adopted on November 8, 1990. Wavy blue and white stripes with a Union Jack and a palm tree. It uses 5 colours: blue, white, red, green and gold. The official proportions are 1:2.
Basic Flag Information
| Flag Name | Flag of British Indian Ocean Territory |
|---|---|
| Country | British Indian Ocean Territory |
| Official Country Name | British Indian Ocean Territory |
| Capital | Diego Garcia |
| Continent | Africa |
| Region | Eastern Africa |
| ISO Country Code | IO / IOT |
| Internet Domain | .io |
| Calling Code | +246 |
| Currency | United States dollar (USD) |
| National Language(s) | English |
| Demonym | Indian |
| Area | 60 km² |
Flag Specifications
| Official Flag Name | Flag of British Indian Ocean Territory |
|---|---|
| Adopted On | November 8, 1990 |
| First Used | 1990 |
| Current Version Adopted | November 8, 1990 |
| Flag Proportion | 1:2 |
| Flag Shape | Rectangle |
| Number of Colors | 5 |
| Main Colors | Blue, White, Red, Green, Gold |
| Design Type | Wavy blue and white stripes with a Union Jack and a palm tree |
| Official Status | Official Territorial Flag |
Flag Color Information
| Color | Appearance | HEX Code | RGB | CMYK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | #012169 | 1, 33, 105 | 99, 69, 0, 59 | |
| White | #FFFFFF | 255, 255, 255 | 0, 0, 0, 0 | |
| Red | #C8102E | 200, 16, 46 | 0, 92, 77, 22 | |
| Green | #009E49 | 0, 158, 73 | 100, 0, 54, 38 | |
| Gold | #FFD100 | 255, 209, 0 | 0, 18, 100, 0 |
Flag Design and Symbols
| Blue colour | Represents the Indian Ocean |
|---|---|
| White colour | Represents the waves |
| Red colour | Represents the Union Jack |
| Green colour | Represents the palm tree |
| Gold colour | Represents the crown |
| Wavy stripes | The waters of the Indian Ocean — an unusual design for a British territory |
| Palm tree and crown | The tropical islands and the British sovereign |
Flag History
| Year / Period | Event |
|---|---|
| 1990 | The design was first used |
| 1990-11-08 | The current flag was officially adopted |
| Present | The flag remains in official use |
| Present | The flag remains in official use |
Flag Dimensions and Construction
| Official Ratio | 1:2 |
|---|---|
| Width | 1 units (hoist) |
| Length | 2 units (fly) |
British Indian Ocean Territory Flag Usage
| Government Buildings | Yes |
|---|---|
| Schools | Yes |
| Civil Use | Yes |
| Official Ceremonies | Yes |
| Sports Events | Yes |
Other Official Flags of British Indian Ocean Territory
| Flag Type | Use | Link |
|---|---|---|
| National Flag | National representation | View flag |
| Civil Flag | Used by civilians | View flag |
| State Flag | Used by government | View flag |
| War Flag | Used during military operations | View flag |
| Naval Ensign | Used by the navy | View flag |
| Air Force Flag | Used by the air force | View flag |
| Presidential Standard | Used by the head of state | View flag |
| Royal Standard | Used by the monarch | View flag |
| Historical Flag | Previous national flag | View flag |
Quick Facts About the Flag
| Flag Age | 36 years old as of 2026 |
|---|---|
| Adoption Date | November 8, 1990 |
| Oldest Version | 1990 |
| Most Common Color | Blue |
| Similar Flags | Anguilla, Ascension Island, Australia |
| Unique Feature | Wavy blue and white stripes with a Union Jack and a palm tree |
Other british-style ensign flags
See all
Facts about the Flag of British Indian Ocean Territory
- The wavy blue and white lines represent the Indian Ocean, with a palm tree and a crown above them.
- The territory has no permanent civilian population, which makes this one of very few flags representing a place where nobody lives permanently.
- The flag of British Indian Ocean Territory was officially adopted on November 8, 1990.
- The flag in its present form is 36 years old as of 2026.
- Design type: Wavy blue and white stripes with a Union Jack and a palm tree.
- The official proportions are 1:2. It shares that ratio with 55 national flags.
- The flag uses 5 colours: blue, white, red, green and gold.
- The blue on the flag stands for the Indian Ocean.
- The white on the flag stands for the waves.
- The red on the flag stands for the Union Jack.
- Wavy stripes: The waters of the Indian Ocean — an unusual design for a British territory.
- Palm tree and crown: The tropical islands and the British sovereign.
- The design belongs to the "British-style ensign" family, shared with 22 other flags in this reference.
- Flags most often confused with it: Anguilla, Ascension Island and Australia.
- British Indian Ocean Territory is a British Overseas Territory, administered by the United Kingdom.
- The capital is Diego Garcia. The currency is the United States dollar (USD).
- It covers 60 km².
- The ISO country codes are IO and IOT. The internet domain is .io.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Flag of British Indian Ocean Territory
When was the flag of British Indian Ocean Territory adopted?
The flag of British Indian Ocean Territory was officially adopted on November 8, 1990.
What do the colours of the flag of British Indian Ocean Territory mean?
Blue for the Indian Ocean, white for the waves, red for the Union Jack, green for the palm tree and gold for the crown.
Is British Indian Ocean Territory an independent country?
British Indian Ocean Territory is a British Overseas Territory, administered by the United Kingdom, a status held since 1965.
What do the symbols on the flag of British Indian Ocean Territory represent?
Wavy stripes — The waters of the Indian Ocean — an unusual design for a British territory. Palm tree and crown — The tropical islands and the British sovereign.
What are the proportions of the flag of British Indian Ocean Territory?
The official ratio is 1:2, which makes the flag rectangular. It shares those proportions with 55 national flags.
What is the capital of British Indian Ocean Territory?
The capital is Diego Garcia. The currency is the United States dollar (USD) and the language spoken is English.
Which flags look similar to the flag of British Indian Ocean Territory?
The closest matches are Anguilla, Ascension Island and Australia, which share both the construction and most of the colours.
How many colours are on the flag of British Indian Ocean Territory?
It uses 5 colours: blue, white, red, green and gold.
Can I download the flag of British Indian Ocean Territory for free?
Yes. This page offers the flag of British Indian Ocean Territory in SVG, PNG, JPG and WebP at several sizes. The files are free to use for any purpose and no attribution is required.
How big is British Indian Ocean Territory?
The area is 60 km².