This list of sovereign states and dependent territories in the Indian Ocean consists of 38 countries, with 13 in Africa, 22 in Asia, and 1 in Oceania that either border on or are in the Indian Ocean, as well as 2 European countries which administer several dependencies or overseas territories in the region.
The states listed in this table either border on or are in the Indian Ocean, which here includes the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf.
The following fully recognised states are all member states of the United Nations.
The entity listed below has declared itself to be a sovereign state and exercises control over some territory but has limited or no recognition from other states and is not a member state of the United Nations.
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Union Territory of India | English Andaman and Nicobar Islands — Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands अंडमान व निकोबार द्वीप समूह — केंद्र शासित प्रदेश अंडमान और निकोबार द्वीप समूह | Port Blair | 380,520 | 8,250 km2 (3,190 sq mi) | ||||
| French Southern and Antarctic Lands | Overseas Territory and constituent part of the French Republic | French Terres australes et antarctiques françaises | Saint-Pierre[4] | No permanent population[5] 200~400 scientists and military personnel[6] | 439,666.4 km2 (169,756.1 sq mi) | ||||
| Lakshadweep Union Territory of Lakshadweep | Union Territory of India | English Lakshadweep — Union Territory of Lakshadweep ലക്ഷദ്വീപ് — കേന്ദ്രഭരണ പ്രദേശമായ ലക്ഷദ്വീപ് | Kavarrati | 70,365 | 32.62 km2(12.59 sq mi) | ||||
| MayotteMayotte Region | Overseas Region and constituent part of the French Republic | French Mayotte — Région Mayotte | Dzaoudzi (official)Mamoudzou (seat of prefect and departmental council) | 266,380 | 374 km2 (144 sq mi) | ||||
| Phuket Phuket Province | Province of Thailand | Thai ภูเก็ต — ภูเก็ต จังหวัด(Phuket — Phuket Changwat) | Phuket | 416,582 | 543 km2 (210 sq mi) | ||||
| Prince Edward Islands | Territory of South Africa | English Prince Edward Islands | Uninhabited | Uninhabited | 335 km2(129 sq mi) | ||||
| Réunion Reunion Region | Overseas Department of France | French La Réunion — Région Réunion | Saint-Denis | 859,959 | 2,511 km2(970 sq mi) | ||||
| Zanzibar Republic of Zanzibar | Semi-autonomous Region of Tanzania | Arabic زنجبار — جمهورية زنجبار (Zinjibār — Jumhūrīyat Zinjibār) Zanzibar — Republic of Zanzibar Zanzibar — Jamhuri ya Zanzibar | Zanzibar City | 1,303,569 [7] | 2,462 km2(951 sq mi) |
| Ashmore and Cartier Islands Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands | External Territory of Australia | English Ashmore and Cartier Islands — Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands | Uninhabited | Uninhabited | 5 km2 (2 sq mi) | ||||
| British Indian Ocean Territory | British Overseas Territory | English British Indian Ocean Territory | Camp Justice | Non-Permanent: 3,000 military personnel Permanent: 0 | 60 km2(23 sq mi) | ||||
| Christmas Island | External Territory of Australia | English Christmas Island 圣诞岛 — 圣诞岛领地 Pulau Krismas — Wilayah Pulau Krismas | Flying Fish Cove | 1,843 | 135 km2(52 sq mi) | ||||
| Cocos (Keeling) Islands | External Territory of Australia | English Cocos (Keeling) Islands — Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands Kepulauan Cocos (Keeling) — Wilayah Kepulauan Cocos (Keeling) Pulu Kokos (Keeling) | West Island | 544 | 14 km2(5.4 sq mi) | ||||
| Heard Island and McDonald Islands Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands | External Territory of Australia | English Heard Island and McDonald Islands — Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands | Uninhabited | Uninhabited | 368 km2 (142 sq mi) |