The Andaman and Nicobar islands are a chain of 572 islands in the Indian Ocean, lying at the eastern edge of the Bay of Bengal. The islands belong to India, which governs them as a union territory. Just 37 of the islands are inhabited, with most people living in the Andamans. The Nicobar islands are more spread out and remote. The islands have a hot, tropical climate and are covered with rainforest. White, sandy beaches line their coasts. In 2004, the Nicobar islands and the island of Little Andaman were severely damaged by a tsunami in the Indian Ocean which killed more than 2000 people. Thousands more were injured or lost their homes.

People and economy

The Andamanese (in the Andaman islands) and the Nicobarese and Shompen (in the Nicobar islands) are the islands’ indigenous people. Their ancestors have lived on the islands for thousands of years. Most of the rest of the population are ethnic Bengalis, and speak Bengali. Just over 100,000 people—a third of the islands’ entire population—live in the Andaman capital, Port Blair, the only large town in both the island groups.

In the Andaman islands, farmers grow rice, while coconuts are the more important crop in the Nicobar islands. Spices such as pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg are also grown here. Tourism has become an important source of income in the Andaman islands, but the Nicobar islands are mostly closed off to tourists.

Sentinelese people

The Andaman islands are home to the Sentinelese people, one of the world’s last uncontacted peoples. They have never allowed outsiders to visit them, and very little is known about their way of life. They live on North Sentinel Island, which is protected and guarded by the Indian government to ensure that outsiders do not disturb them. It is thought that the Sentinelese people have lived on the island for 60,000 years.

Facts about the Andaman and Nicobar islands

Population 405,000

Area 6408 sq km (2474 sq miles)

Highest point Saddle Peak (North Andaman Island), 731 m (2398 ft)

Capital Port Blair, pop. 100,186

Languages Bengali, Hindi, Tamil

Religions Hindu 69%, Christian 22%, Muslim 9%

Ethnicity Bengali, other Indian, indigenous peoples (Andamanese, Nicobarese)

Currency Indian rupee (INR)

Chief exports handicrafts, shells, areca nut, coconuts, spices