Country Profile: Bouvet Island

Bouvet Island is an uninhabited volcanic island located in the South Atlantic Ocean, recognized as the most remote island on Earth. Almost entirely covered by glaciers, it has a harsh Antarctic climate and inaccessible terrain, making it difficult to approach. Governed by Norway since 1929, the island serves primarily as a nature reserve with an automated research station that studies local wildlife. Despite its isolation, the island reflects human interest in environmental conservation and research in extreme conditions.

Geography

Bouvet Island is situated southwest of the Cape of Good Hope, with geographic coordinates of 54°26′ S, 3°24′ E. The island covers a total area of 49 sq km and has a coastline of 29.6 km. Its terrain is predominantly volcanic, with 93% of the land covered by glacial ice. The highest point, Olavtoppen, reaches an elevation of 780 m, while the lowest point is at sea level.

0 km land boundaries.
4 nm territorial sea claims.
12,776 km distance from Bouvet Island to Norway.

People and Society

Bouvet Island is uninhabited, with no permanent residents. However, a small seasonal research station is established in the northwest corner of the island for scientific purposes. This station allows temporary habitation for research teams studying the unique wildlife and environmental conditions in this remote location.

Environment

The climate on Bouvet Island is classified as Antarctic, characterized by extreme cold and harsh conditions. The island is devoid of agricultural land, forests, or permanent crops, with 100% of the land designated for other uses. Its unique ecosystem focuses on glacial landscapes and the seasonal presence of fauna such as fur seals and penguins.

0% agricultural land.
0% arable land.
0% permanent crops.

Government

Bouvet Island is a territory of Norway, administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice and the Oslo Police. The laws of Norway apply on the island, and its flag is the same as that of Norway. The island was named after French naval officer Jean-Baptiste Charles Bouvet, who discovered it in 1739.

Communications

Bouvet Island uses the internet country code .bv. Despite its isolation, this code allows for international recognition and communication related to the island’s research and environmental studies.

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	Uninhabited	No permanent residents
Area	49 sq km	Entirely covered by glaciers
Elevation (highest point)	780 m	Olavtoppen (Olav Peak)
Territorial Sea	4 nm	Maritime claims
Distance to Norway	12,776 km	About one-third the earth's circumference