[1] Its infrastructure is limited to a single coastal road connecting the hamlets on the northern and eastern shores.

The island had few settlements of fishermen and rice growers on the coastal areas, but it never had a large population until the Iriomote Coal Mine operated between 1889 and 1959.

During World War II some residents of Ishigaki were forcibly made to take refuge in Iriomote, many of whom contracted malaria.

The possibility exists that a World War II-era U.S. submarine lies in about 350 m (1,150 ft) of water off the coast of Iriomote Island.

The SONAR image of a large unexpected obstruction to the operations prompted the divers to command evasive maneuvers and avoid the area for the safety of the ROV.

[7] Apart from tourism, the island economy is sustained by agricultural production, primarily of pineapple, sugarcane, mango, culture pearl growing [8] and fishing.

Around 21 km (13 mi) northwest (24°33′29″N 124°00′00″E / 24.558°N 124.000°E / 24.558; 124.000 (Iriomotejima)) of Iriomote is an active undersea volcano which last erupted in 1924; the summit is 200 m (660 ft) below sea level.