Clipperton Island

Updated August 11, 2026

Area

6.00 km²

CIA World Factbook archive

CIA World Factbook map of Clipperton Island, showing major cities, rivers and neighbouring countries — Map from The World Factbook, final edition. Public domain (17 U.S.C. § 105); boundary representation is not necessarily authoritative.

Region: North America
Area: 6.00 km²

The Factbook archive 25 fields · 6 categories

The complete World Factbook entry for Clipperton Island: 25 fields and 21 sub-entries across 6 categories, kept whole as historical reference. A United States Government work in the public domain, reflecting data as of the final January 2026 edition. Last CIA update: January 8, 2026.

Introduction 1 field

Background: This isolated atoll was named for John CLIPPERTON, an English pirate who was rumored to have made it his hideout early in the 18th century. Annexed by France in 1855 and claimed by the US, it was seized by Mexico in 1897. Arbitration eventually awarded the island to France in 1931, which took possession in 1935.

Geography 15 fields

Location: Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120 km southwest of Mexico
Geographic coordinates: 10 17 N, 109 13 W
Map references: Political Map of the World
Area: total: 6 sq km
land: 6 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about 12 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 11.1 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees Celsius, wet season (May to October)
Terrain: coral atoll
Elevation: highest point: Rocher Clipperton 29 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)
forest: 0% (2018 est.)
other: 100% (2018 est.)
Natural hazards: subject to tropical storms and hurricanes from May to October
Geography - note: the atoll reef is approximately 12 km (7.5 mi) in circumference

People and Society 1 field

Population: total: uninhabited

Environment 3 fields

Environmental issues: no natural resources, guano deposits depleted; stagnant fresh-water lagoon
Climate: tropical; humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees Celsius, wet season (May to October)
Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)
forest: 0% (2018 est.)
other: 100% (2018 est.)

Government 4 fields

Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Clipperton Island
local long form: none
local short form: Ile Clipperton
former: sometimes referred to as Ile de la Passion or Atoll Clipperton
etymology: named after an 18th-century English pirate who is alleged to have used the island as a base starting in 1705
Dependency status: possession of France; administered directly by the Minister of Overseas France
Legal system: the laws of France apply
Flag: the flag of France is used

Military and Security 1 field

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France

Location