Seychelles

Seychelles was uninhabited before Europeans discovered the islands early in the 16th century. After a lengthy struggle, France eventually ceded control of the islands to Great Britain in 1814. During colonial rule, a plantation-based economy developed that relied on imported labor, primarily from European colonies in Africa. Seychelles gained independence in 1976 through negotiations with Great Britain. In 1977, Prime Minister France-Albert RENE launched a coup against the country’s first president, and Seychelles became a socialist one-party state until adopting a new constitution and holding elections in 1993. RENE continued to lead Seychelles through two election cycles until he stepped down in 2004. Vice President James Alix MICHEL took over the presidency and in 2006 was elected to a new five-year term; he was reelected in 2011 and again in 2015. In 2016, James MICHEL resigned and handed over the presidency to his vice-president, Danny FAURE. In 2020, Wavel RAMKALAWAN was elected president, the first time an opposition candidate has won the presidency.

land

455 sq km

total

455 sq km

water

0 sq km

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May)

491 km

highest point

Morne Seychellois 905 m

lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

4 35 S, 55 40 E

the smallest African country in terms of both area and population; the constitution of the Republic of Seychelles lists 155 islands, 42 granitic and 113 coralline; by far the largest island is Mahe, which is home to about 90% of the population and the site of the capital city of Victoria

3 sq km (2012)

total

0 km

agricultural land

6.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 2.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 4.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest

88.5% (2018 est.)

other

5% (2018 est.)

archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar

Africa

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; occasional short droughts

fish, coconuts (copra), cinnamon trees

more than three-quarters of the population lives on the main island of Mahe; Praslin contains less than 10%; a smaller percent on La Digue and the outer islands as shown in this population distribution map

Mahe Group is volcanic with a narrow coastal strip and rocky, hilly interior; others are relatively flat coral atolls, or elevated reefs; sits atop the submarine Mascarene Plateau

0-14 years

17.7% (male 8,912/female 8,439)

15-64 years

72.4% (male 37,841/female 33,210)

65 years and over

10% (2024 est.) (male 4,220/female 5,565)

beer

4.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

4.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

9.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.49 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

11.8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

NA

6.4% of GDP (2020)

45% (2023 est.)

7 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Seychelles has no indigenous population and was first permanently settled by a small group of French planters, African slaves, and South Indians in 1770. Seychelles’ modern population is composed of the descendants of French and later British settlers, Africans, and Indian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern traders and is concentrated on three of its 155 islands – the vast majority on Mahe and lesser numbers on Praslin and La Digue. Seychelles’ population grew rapidly during the second half of the 20th century, largely due to natural increase, but the pace has slowed because of fertility decline. The total fertility rate dropped sharply from 4.0 children per woman in 1980 to 1.9 in 2015, mainly as a result of a family planning program, free education and health care, and increased female labor force participation. Life expectancy has increased steadily, but women on average live 9 years longer than men, a difference that is higher than that typical of developed countries.The combination of reduced fertility and increased longevity has resulted in an aging population, which will put pressure on the government’s provision of pensions and health care. Seychelles’ sustained investment in social welfare services, such as free primary health care and education up to the post-secondary level, have enabled the country to achieve a high human development index score – among the highest in Africa. Despite some of its health and education indicators being nearly on par with Western countries, Seychelles has a high level of income inequality.An increasing number of migrant workers – mainly young men – have been coming to Seychelles in recent years to work in the construction and tourism industries. As of 2011, foreign workers made up nearly a quarter of the workforce. Indians are the largest non-Seychellois population – representing half of the country’s foreigners – followed by Malagasy.

elderly dependency ratio

11.4

potential support ratio

8.7 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

45

youth dependency ratio

33.6

improved: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: 96.2% of population

improved: urban

urban: NA

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: 3.8% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: NA

5.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

predominantly Creole (mainly of East African and Malagasy heritage); also French, Indian, Chinese, and Arab populations

0.89 (2024 est.)

3.6 beds/1,000 population (2011)

female

7.4 deaths/1,000 live births

male

12.8 deaths/1,000 live births

total

10.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Seychellois Creole (official) 89.1%, English (official) 5.1%, French (official) 0.7%, other 3.8%, unspecified 1.4% (2010 est.)

female

81.1 years

male

72.2 years

total population

76.6 years (2024 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

96.4% (2018)

male

95.4%

total population

95.9%

28,000 VICTORIA (capital) (2018)

3 deaths/100,000 live births (2020)

female

39.4 years

male

38.2 years

total

38.7 years (2024 est.)

adjective

Seychellois

noun

Seychellois (singular and plural)

0.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

14% (2016)

2.25 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

female

47,214 (2024 est.)

male

50,973

total

98,187

more than three-quarters of the population lives on the main island of Mahe; Praslin contains less than 10%; a smaller percent on La Digue and the outer islands as shown in this population distribution map

0.56% (2024 est.)

Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 10.5% (Anglican 6.1%, Pentecostal Assembly 1.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.2%, other Protestant 1.7%), other Christian 2.4%, Hindu 2.4%, Muslim 1.6%, other non-Christian 1.1%, unspecified 4.8%, none 0.9% (2010 est.)

improved: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: NA

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: NA

female

16 years (2021)

male

13 years

total

15 years

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.14 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.76 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1.08 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

female

6.4% (2020 est.)

male

34% (2020 est.)

total

20.2% (2020 est.)

1.81 children born/woman (2024 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

58.8% of total population (2023)

27 administrative districts; Anse aux Pins, Anse Boileau, Anse Etoile, Anse Royale, Au Cap, Baie Lazare, Baie Sainte Anne, Beau Vallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade, Glacis, Grand Anse Mahe, Grand Anse Praslin, Ile Perseverance I, Ile Perseverance II, La Digue, La Riviere Anglaise, Les Mamelles, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe Larue, Port Glaud, Roche Caiman, Saint Louis, Takamaka

etymology

founded as L'etablissement in 1778 by French colonists, the town was renamed in 1841 by the British after Queen VICTORIA (1819-1901); "victoria" is the Latin word for "victory"

geographic coordinates

4 37 S, 55 27 E

name

Victoria

time difference

UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of the Seychelles

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

amendments

proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the National Assembly; passage of amendments affecting the country’s sovereignty, symbols and languages, the supremacy of the constitution, fundamental rights and freedoms, amendment procedures, and dissolution of the Assembly also requires approval by at least 60% of voters in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2018

history

previous 1970, 1979; latest drafted May 1993, approved by referendum 18 June 1993, effective 23 June 1993

conventional long form

Republic of Seychelles

conventional short form

Seychelles

etymology

named by French Captain Corneille Nicholas MORPHEY after Jean Moreau de SECHELLES, the finance minister of France, in 1756

local long form

Republic of Seychelles

local short form

Seychelles

chief of mission

Ambassador Henry V. JARDINE (since 22 February 2023); Chargé d’Affaires Adham LOUTFI (since 6 October 2023) note - Ambassador JARDINE is posted in Mauritius and is accredited to Seychelles, and Chargé d’Affaires LOUTFI is posted in Victoria, Seychelles to manage the expanding policy interests

embassy

2nd Floor, Oliaji Trade Center, Victoria Mahe, Seychelles; note - US Embassy in Seychelles reopened on 1 June 2023 after having been closed in 1996

telephone

[248] 422 5256

chancery

685 Third Avenue, Suite 1107, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10017

chief of mission

Ambassador Ian Dereck Joseph MADELEINE (since 1 December 2021); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN

email address and website

seychellesmission@sycun.orgForeign Affairs Department Republic of Seychelles » United States of America (mfa.gov.sc)

FAX

[1] (212) 972-1786

telephone

[1] (212) 972-1785

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President Wavel RAMKALAWAN (since 26 October 2020)

election results

2020: Wavel RAMKALAWAN elected president; Wavel RAMKALAWAN (LDS) 54.9%, Danny FAURE (US) 43.5%, other 1.6%2015:  President James Alix MICHEL reelected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - James Alix MICHEL (PL) 47.8%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (SNP) 35.3%, other 16.9%; percent of vote in second round - James Alix MICHEL 50.2%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN 49.8%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 22 to 24 October 2020 (next to be held in 2025)

head of government

President Wavel RAMKALAWAN (since 26 October 2020)

note

note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, and green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side; the oblique bands are meant to symbolize a dynamic new country moving into the future; blue represents sky and sea, yellow the sun giving light and life, red the peoples' determination to work for the future in unity and love, white social justice and harmony, and green the land and natural environment

presidential republic

29 June 1976 (from the UK)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, C, CD, COMESA, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

highest court(s)

Seychelles Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 4 justices); Supreme Court of Seychelles (consists of the chief justice and 9 puisne judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 3 Supreme Court judges)

judge selection and term of office

all judges appointed by the president of the republic upon the recommendation of the Constitutional Appointments Authority, a 3-member body, with 1 member appointed by the president of the republic, 1 by the opposition leader in the National Assembly, and 1 by the other 2 appointees; judges serve until retirement at age 70

subordinate courts

Magistrates' Courts of Seychelles; Family Tribunal for issues such as domestic violence, child custody, and maintenance; Employment Tribunal for labor-related disputes

mixed legal system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law

description

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (35 seats in the 2020-25 term; 26 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and up to 9 members elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - LDS 54.8%, US 42.3%, other 2.9%; seats by party - LDS 25, US 10; composition - men 27, women 7, percentage women 20.6%

elections

last held on 22-24 October 2020 (next to be held in October 2025); note - the election was originally scheduled for 2021 but was moved up a year and held alongside the presidential election in order to cut election costs

lyrics/music

David Francois Marc ANDRE and George Charles Robert PAYET

name

"Koste Seselwa" (Seychellois Unite)

note

note: adopted 1996

selected World Heritage Site locales

Aldabra Atoll; Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve

total World Heritage Sites

2 (both natural)

Constitution Day, 18 June (1993); Independence Day (National Day), 29 June (1976)

coco de mer (sea coconut); national colors: blue, yellow, red, white, green

Seychelles Party for Social Justice and Democracy or SPSJDSeychellois Democratic Alliance or LDS (Linyon Demokratik Seselwa/Union Démocratique Seychelloise)Seychelles National Party or SNPUnited Seychelles or US

18 years of age; universal

coconuts, vegetables, bananas, eggs, chicken, pork, fruits, tomatoes, tropical fruits, cassava (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

expenditures

$611.548 million (2020 est.)

note

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$431.07 million (2020 est.)

Fitch rating

B+ (2020)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Current account balance 2021

-$160.168 million (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$141.648 million (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$155.194 million (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

high-income Indian Ocean island economy; rapidly growing tourism sector; major tuna exporter; offshore financial hub; environmentally fragile and investing in ocean rise mitigation; recently discovered offshore oil potential; successful anticorruption efforts

Currency

Seychelles rupees (SCR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2018

13.911 (2018 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

14.033 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

17.617 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

16.921 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

14.273 (2022 est.)

Exports 2021

$1.751 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$2.247 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$2.375 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

fish, refined petroleum, ships, aircraft, animal meal (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

UAE 18%, France 17%, UK 9%, Mauritius 9%, Japan 8% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

exports of goods and services

85.9% (2023 est.)

government consumption

21.3% (2023 est.)

household consumption

73.8% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-97.1% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

16.1% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

agriculture

2.8% (2023 est.)

industry

12% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

68% (2023 est.)

$2.141 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018

32.1 (2018 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

highest 10%

23.9% (2018 est.)

lowest 10%

2.6% (2018 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports 2021

$1.821 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$2.298 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$2.437 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

ships, refined petroleum, fish, plastic products, cars (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

UAE 22%, Netherlands 14%, Cayman Islands 7%, France 6%, China 6% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

2.13% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

fishing, tourism, beverages

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018

3.7% (2018 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

2.07% (2019 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020

8.28% (2020 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

51,000 (2018 est.)

25.3% (2018 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

note

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2017

63.6% of GDP (2017 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$2.976 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$3.421 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$3.53 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

0.55% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

14.98% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

3.16% (2023 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$30,000 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$28,500 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$29,500 (2023 est.)

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

0.64% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0.49% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.49% of GDP (2023 est.)

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020

$559.682 million (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$702.585 million (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$638.961 million (2022 est.)

26.18% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate 2016

2.7% (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate 2017

3% (2017 est.)

female

15.6%

male

17.5%

total

16.5% (2020 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

867,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

867,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

imports

(2022 est.) less than 1 metric ton

consumption

571.297 million kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

158,000 kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

44.034 million kWh (2022 est.)

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

fossil fuels

86.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

12.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

wind

1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

111.2 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

6,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

36 (2020 est.)

total

34,966 (2020 est.)

the national broadcaster, Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), which is funded by taxpayer money, operates the only terrestrial TV station, which provides local programming and airs broadcasts from international services; a privately owned Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) channel also provides local programming multi-channel cable and satellite TV are available through 2 providers; the national broadcaster operates 1 AM and 1 FM radio station; there are 2 privately operated radio stations; transmissions of 2 international broadcasters are accessible in Victoria (2019)

.sc

percent of population

82% (2021 est.)

total

90,200 (2021 est.)

domestic

fixed-line  is 18 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity is 173 telephones per 100 persons (2021)

general assessment

effective system; direct international calls to over 100 countries; radiotelephone communications between islands in the archipelago; 3 ISPs; use of Internet cafes' for access to Internet; 4G services and 5G pending (2020)

international

country code - 248; landing points for the PEACE and the SEAS submarine cables providing connectivity to Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia; direct radiotelephone communications with adjacent island countries and African coastal countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

18 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

19,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

192 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

205,000 (2022 est.)

16 (2024)

S7

6 (2024)

by type

general cargo 6, oil tanker 6, other 18

total

30 (2023)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

7.79 million (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

455,201 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

7

number of registered air carriers

1 (2020)

key ports

Victoria

ports with oil terminals

1

total ports

1 (2024)

very small

1

paved

514 km

total

526 km

unpaved

12 km (2015)

formed in 1977, the SDF is one of the World's smallest militaries; its primary responsibility is maritime security, including countering illegal fishing, piracy, and drug smuggling; it was given police powers in 2022; the Seychelles has close security ties with India (2024)

Seychelles Defense Forces (SDF): Army (includes infantry, special forces, and a presidential security unit), Coast Guard, and Air ForceMinistry of Internal Affairs: Seychelles Police Force (includes unarmed police and an armed paramilitary Police Special Support Wing, and the Marine Police Unit) (2024)

note

note: the SDF reports to the president, who acts as minister of defense  

approximately 500-1,000 personnel (2023)

the SDF's inventory primarily consists of Soviet-era equipment delivered in the 1970s and 1980s; in recent years, the SDF has received limited amounts of more modern equipment, mostly donations of patrol boats and aircraft, from several suppliers, including Bahrain, China, India, and the UAE (2024)

Military Expenditures 2019

1.3% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

1.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

18-28 (18-25 for officers) years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; 6-year initial commitment; no conscription (2023)

carbon dioxide emissions

0.61 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

0.1 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

16.96 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May)

water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater; water pollution; biodiversity maintainance

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

agricultural land

6.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 2.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 4.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest

88.5% (2018 est.)

other

5% (2018 est.)

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

0.09% of GDP (2018 est.)

0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

agricultural

900,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial

3.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal

10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

58.8% of total population (2023)

municipal solid waste generated annually

48,000 tons (2012 est.)