| Location | Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar |
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| Geographic coordinates | 20 17 S, 57 33 E |
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| Zone | Africa |
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| Area | total: 2,040 sq km
land: 2,030 sq km
water: 10 sq km
note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and Rodrigues |
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| Land boundaries | 0 km |
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| Coastline | 177 km |
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| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin |
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| Climate | tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May) |
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| Terrain | small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau |
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| Elevation extremes | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Piton 828 m |
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| Natural resources | arable land, fish |
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| Irrigated land | 177 km |
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| Natural hazards | cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs that may pose maritime hazards |
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Environment -
current issues | water pollution, degradation of coral reefs |
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Environment -
international agreements | party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
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| Geography - note | the main island, from which the country derives its name, is of volcanic origin and is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs |
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