British Overseas Territories

British Overseas Territories
British Overseas Territories
	; Flag
	Anthem: "God Save the King";
	Location of the United Kingdom and the British Overseas Territories
Sovereignty	United Kingdom
Largest territory	Falkland Islands;
Official languages	English
Demonym(s)	British; Briton; multiple local demonyms;
Government	Dependent territories under a constitutional monarchy
• Monarch	Charles III
• Prime Minister of the United Kingdom	Andy Burnham
• Foreign Secretary	Ed Miliband
• Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories	Stewart Wood
Area
• Total	18,015 km2 (6,956 sq mi)
Population
• 2019 estimate	272,256
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy

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. Three territories, namely the British Antarctic Territory, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and the British Indian Ocean Territory, have no permanent civilian population and are staffed primarily by scientific, administrative, or military 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), although they do not form part of the United Kingdom itself. The total land area of all the BOTs is 18,015 km² (6,956 sq mi).