1993 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1993 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 455 km2 land area: 455 km2 comparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May)
Coastline
491 km
Environment
lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; short droughts possible; no fresh water - catchments collect rain; 40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands
International disputes
claims Tromelin Island
Irrigated land
NA km2
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 4% permanent crops: 18% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 18% other: 60%
Location
in the western Indian Ocean northeast of Madagascar
Map references
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Maritime claims
continental shelf: 200 nm or the edge of continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural resources
fish, copra, cinnamon trees
Terrain
Mahe Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky, hilly; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs
People and Society
Birth rate
22.35 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate
7.12 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Ethnic divisions
Seychellois (mixture of Asians, Africans, Europeans)
Infant mortality rate
12.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Labor force
27,700 (1985) by occupation: industry and commerce 31%, services 21%, government 20%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 12%, other 16% (1985) note: 57% of population of working age (1983)
Languages
English (official), French (official), Creole
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 69.26 years male: 65.56 years female: 73.07 years (1993 est.)
Literacy
age 15 and over can read and write (1971) total population: 58% male: 56% female: 60%
Nationality
noun: Seychellois (singular and plural) adjective: Seychelles
Net migration rate
-6.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Population
71,494 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate
0.88% (1993 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 90%, Anglican 8%, other 2%
Total fertility rate
2.3 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
23 administrative districts; Anse aux Pins, Anse Boileau, Anse Etoile, Anse Louis, Anse Royale, Baie Lazare, Baie Sainte Anne, Beau Vallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade, Glacis, Grand' Anse (on Mahe Island), Grand' Anse (on Praslin Island), La Digue, La Riviere Anglaise, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe Larue, Port Glaud, Saint Louis, Takamaka
Capital
Victoria
Chief of State and Head of Government
President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977)
Constitution
5 June 1979 note: new constitution now being drafted by multiparty conference, to take effect in mid-1993
Digraph
SE
Diplomatic representation in US
chief of mission: Second Secretary, Charge d'Affaires ad interim Marc R. MARENGO chancery: (temporary) 820 Second Avenue, Suite 900F, New York, NY 10017 telephone: (212) 687-9766
Elections
note: presidential and legislative elections are scheduled to be held once the new, multiparty consititution is ratified later this year
Executive branch
president, Council of Ministers
FAX
(248) 25189
Flag
three horizontal bands of red (top), white (wavy), and green; the white band is the thinnest, the red band is the thickest
Independence
29 June 1976 (from UK)
Judicial branch
Court of Appeal, Supreme Court
Legal system
based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law
Legislative branch
unicameral People's Assembly (Assemblee du Peuple)
Member of
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTO
Names
conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles conventional short form: Seychelles
National holiday
Liberation Day, 5 June (1977) (anniversary of coup)
Other political or pressure groups
trade unions; Roman Catholic Church
People's Assembly
last held 5 December 1987 (next to be held mid-1993); results - SPPF was the only legal party; seats - (25 total, 23 elected) SPPF 23
Political parties and leaders
ruling party - Seychelles People's Progressive Front (SPPF), France Albert RENE; Democratic Party (DP), Sir James MANCHAM; Seychelles Party (PS), Wavel RAMKALAWAN; Seychelles Democratic Movement (MSPD), Jacques HONDOUL; Seychelles Liberal Party (SLP), Ogilvie BERLOUIS
President
last held 9-11 June 1989 (next to be held NA 1993); results - President France Albert RENE reelected without opposition
Suffrage
17 years of age; universal
Type
republic
US diplomatic representation
chief of mission: Ambassador Matthew F. MATTINGLY embassy: 4th Floor, Victoria House, Victoria mailing address: Victoria House, Box 251, Victoria, Mahe, or Box 148, Unit 62501, APO AE 09815-2501 telephone: (248) 25256
Economy
Agriculture
accounts for 7% of GDP, mostly subsistence farming; cash crops - coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla; other products - sweet potatoes, cassava, bananas; broiler chickens; large share of food needs imported; expansion of tuna fishing under way
Budget
revenues $180 million; expenditures $202 million, including capital expenditures of $32 million (1989)
Currency
1 Seychelles rupee (SRe) = 100 cents
Economic aid
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY78-89), $26 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1978-89), $315 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $5 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $60 million
Electricity
30,000 kW capacity; 80 million kWh produced, 1,160 kWh per capita (1991)
Exchange rates
Seychelles rupees (SRe) per US$1 - 5.2545 (January 1993), 5.1220 (1992), 5.2893 (1991), 5.3369 (1990), 5.6457 (1989), 5.3836 (1988)
Exports
$40 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.) commodities: fish, copra, cinnamon bark, petroleum products (reexports) partners: France 63%, Pakistan 12%, Reunion 10%, UK 7% (1987)
External debt
$189 million (1991 est.)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Imports
$186 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.) commodities: manufactured goods, food, tobacco, beverages, machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products partners: UK 20%, France 14%, South Africa 13%, Yemen 13%, Singapore 8%, Japan 6% (1987)
Industrial production
growth rate 7% (1987); accounts for 10% of GDP
Industries
tourism, processing of coconut and vanilla, fishing, coir rope factory, boat building, printing, furniture, beverage
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1.8% (1990 est.)
National product
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $350 million (1991 est.)
National product per capita
$5,200 (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate
-4.5% (1991 est.)
Overview
In this small, open, tropical island economy, the tourist industry employs about 30% of the labor force and provides more than 70% of hard currency earnings. In recent years the government has encouraged foreign investment in order to upgrade hotels and other services. At the same time, the government has moved to reduce the high dependence on tourism by promoting the development of farming, fishing, and small-scale manufacturing.
Unemployment rate
9% (1987)
Communications
Airports
total: 14 usable: 14 with permanent-surface runways: 8 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1
Highways
260 km total; 160 km paved, 100 km crushed stone or earth
Merchant marine
1 refrigerated cargo totaling 1,827 GRT/2,170 DWT
Ports
Victoria
Telecommunications
direct radio communications with adjacent islands and African coastal countries; 13,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, 2 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station; USAF tracking station
Military and Security
Branches
Army, National Guard, Marines, Coast Guard, Presidential Protection Unit, Police Force
Defense expenditures
exchange rate conversion - $12 million, 4% of GDP (1990 est.)
Manpower availability
males age 15-49 18,982; fit for military service 9,710 (1993 est.)