| Official name | United States Minor Outlying Islands |
| Type | Unincorporated territories |
| Aerial view of Palmyra Atoll | |
| State | Pacific Ocean & Caribbean Sea |
| Country | United States |
| Established | Varies (claimed under Guano Islands Act or military use) |
| Population | < 300 (mostly temporary personnel) |
| Area (km²) | ~35 |
| Time zone | UTC−11 to UTC+12 |
| ZIP code(s) | N/A |
| Area code(s) | N/A |
U.S. Minor Outlying Islands
The U.S. Minor Outlying Islands are a group of nine isolated island territories located in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. These islands are unincorporated, unorganized, and mostly uninhabited, with occasional presence by scientists or U.S. military personnel. They are directly administered by the United States federal government.
Included Islands
These territories are officially classified under this group:
Pacific Ocean
- Baker Island
- Howland Island
- Jarvis Island
- Johnston Atoll
- Kingman Reef
- Midway Atoll
- Palmyra Atoll (only one that's incorporated)
Caribbean Sea
- Navassa Island (disputed with Haiti)
Overview
- No permanent population; most are protected wildlife refuges or military zones
- Most were originally claimed under the Guano Islands Act in the 19th century
- Palmyra Atoll is the only one that's an incorporated territory, but it remains unorganized
- Midway Atoll is known for its historic WWII Battle of Midway and as a wildlife refuge
Geography and Ecology
- Important nesting and feeding grounds for seabirds and sea turtles
- Coral reefs, lagoons, and remote atolls provide critical biodiversity
- Administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in many cases
Legal Status
- Not part of any U.S. state or major territory
- Governed directly by federal agencies (Dept. of Interior, Dept. of Defense)
- No local government, no citizenship rights for the islands themselves
Fun Facts
- Howland Island was the planned refueling stop for Amelia Earhart’s final flight
- Navassa Island is rarely visited but claimed by both the U.S. and Haiti
- Midway Atoll is a National Wildlife Refuge and critical Pacific war history site