Map of the Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of Earth’s five oceans, covering an area of approximately 70,560,000 km² — about 19% of the world’s total ocean area. Its waters reach an average depth of around 3,741 m, the second-deepest of the five oceans, and plunge to about 7,290 m at their deepest point, in the Sunda (Java) Trench. It is bordered by Africa, Asia and Oceania.

It is the warmest of the oceans and is strongly shaped by the seasonal monsoon winds, which reverse the direction of its surface currents through the year. By greatest depth it has the third-greatest maximum depth of the five oceans, while by surface area it ranks 3rd. By surface area it is about 43% the size of the Pacific, the largest ocean.

Oceans are the largest bodies of water on the planet and together cover the majority of its surface. Under the five-ocean model used on this site, the global ocean is divided into the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern and Arctic oceans. The figures above are widely cited approximate values (CIA World Factbook / NOAA); exact measurements vary with how each basin’s boundaries are drawn. Use the interactive map to pan across the Indian Ocean and the coasts that frame it, or compare it with the other oceans.