British Overseas Territories
Territories under UK sovereignty / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The British Overseas Territories (BOTs) are the 14 territories with a constitutional and historical link with the United Kingdom that, while not forming part of the United Kingdom itself, are part of its sovereign territory.[1][2][3] The permanently inhabited territories are delegated varying degrees of internal self-governance, with the United Kingdom retaining responsibility for defence, foreign relations and internal security, and ultimate responsibility for good governance.[4][5] Three of the territories are chiefly or only inhabited by military or scientific personnel, the rest hosting significant civilian populations. All fourteen have the British monarch as head of state.[6] These UK government responsibilities are assigned to various departments of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and are subject to change.
British Overseas Territories | |
---|---|
Anthem: "God Save the King" | |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Largest territory | British Antarctic Territory |
Official languages | English |
Demonym(s) |
|
Government | Devolved administrations under a constitutional monarchy |
• Monarch | Charles III |
Keir Starmer | |
David Lammy | |
Vacant | |
Area | |
• Total | 18,015[lower-alpha 1] km2 (6,956 sq mi) |
Population | |
• 2019 estimate | 272,256 |
Date format | dd/mm/yyyy |