British overseas territory
Sign in to saveterritories under the jurisdiction and sovereignty of the United Kingdom
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British overseas territories are regions around the world that are legally under the control and authority of the United Kingdom, rather than being independent countries. They matter because they extend Britain's political influence globally and give the UK responsibility for the governance, defense, and welfare of people living in these areas.
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Article
The British Overseas Territories (BOTs) are fourteen dependent territories of the United Kingdom (UK) that lie outside the British Islands. These territories are remnants of the former British Empire, which remained under British sovereignty following decolonisation, albeit with varying constitutional statuses. Britain is notably the only country to still have territories in every continent on earth, except Australia.
The permanently inhabited territories exercise varying degrees of internal self-governance, although the UK retains ultimate constitutional oversight, and authority over defence, foreign relations and internal security. While three of the territories are inhabited primarily by military or scientific personnel, the remainder host substantial civilian populations. All fourteen territories recognise the British monarch as head of state and oversight is primarily exercised by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The total land area of all the BOTs is 18,015 km (6,956 sq mi).
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1983 establishments in dependent territories of the United KingdomBritish colonization of the AmericasBritish Overseas TerritoriesCommons link from WikidataDependent territories of European countriesForeign relations of the United KingdomGovernance of the British EmpireHistory of the British EmpireHistory of the Commonwealth of Nations