1996 Edition

Description

five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, and green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side

Location

4 35 S, 55 40 E -- Eastern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar Flag ----

Area

comparative area

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

land area

455 sq km

total area

455 sq km

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

current issues

no natural fresh water resources, catchments collect rain water

international agreements

party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Desertification

natural hazards

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

Geographic coordinates

4 35 S, 55 40 E

Geographic note

40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands

International disputes

claims Tromelin Island

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

4%

forest and woodland

18%

meadows and pastures

0%

other

60%

permanent crops

18%

Location

Eastern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

continental shelf

200 nm or to the edge of the 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

highest point

Morne Seychellois 905 m

lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 31% (male 12,005; female 11,835) 15-64 years: 63% (male 24,003; female 24,946) 65 years and over: 6% (male 1,669; female 3,117) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

21.02 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

7.31 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Seychellois (mixture of Asians, Africans, Europeans)

Infant mortality rate

12.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

English (official), French (official), Creole

Life expectancy at birth

female

74.39 years (1996 est.)

male

64.23 years

total population

69.24 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1971 est.)

female

60%

male

56%

total population

58%

Nationality

adjective

Seychelles

noun

Seychellois (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

-6.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

77,575 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

0.76% (1996 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 90%, Anglican 8%, other 2%

Sex ratio

all ages

0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.54 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

2.09 children born/woman (1996 est.)

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

Constitution

18 June 1993

Data code

SE

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

(temporary) 820 Second Avenue, Suite 900F, New York, NY 10017

chief of mission

Ambassador Marc Michael R. MARENGO

telephone

[1] (212) 687-9766, 9767

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers was appointed by the president

chief of state and head of government

President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977) was elected for a five-year term by popular vote; election last held 20-23 July 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results - President France Albert RENE (SPPF) reelected with 59.5% of the vote, Sir James MANCHAM (DP) 36.72%

FAX

[1] (212) 922-9177

[248] 225189

Flag

five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, and green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side

Independence

29 June 1976 (from UK)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal; Supreme Court

Legal system

based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

conventional long form

Republic of Seychelles

conventional short form

Seychelles

National holiday

National Day, 18 June (1993) (adoption of new constitution)

Other political or pressure groups

trade unions; Roman Catholic Church

People's Assembly (Assemblee du Peuple)

elections last held 20-23 July 1993 (next to be held NA); results - SPPF 82%, DP 15%, UO 3%; seats - (33 total, 22 elected, 11 awarded) seats elected - SPPF 21, DP 1; seats awarded - SPPF 6, DP 4, UO 1

note

the 11 awarded seats are apportioned according to the share of each party in the total vote

Political parties and leaders

ruling party - Seychelles People's Progressive Front (SPPF), France Albert RENE; Democratic Party (DP), Sir James MANCHAM; United Opposition (UO), Wavel RAMKALAWAN - a

coalition of the following parties

Seychelles Party (PS), Wavel RAMKALAWAN; Seychelles Democratic Movement (MSPD), Jacques HONDOUL; Seychelles Liberal Party (SLP), Ogilvie BERLOUIS; New Democratic Party , Christopher GILL (former member of DP)

Suffrage

17 years of age; universal

Type of government

republic

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission

Ambassador Carl Burton STOKES

embassy

4th Floor, Victoria House, Box 251, Victoria, Mahe

mailing address

Box 148, Victoria; Unit 62501, APO AE 09815-2501

telephone

[248] 225256

Agriculture

coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), bananas; broiler chickens; expansion of tuna fishing under way

Budget

expenditures

$263 million, including capital expenditures of $54 million (1993 est.)

revenues

$227.4 million

Currency

1 Seychelles rupee (SRe) = 100 cents

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $NA

Economic overview

Since independence in 1976, per capita output has grown to roughly seven times the old near-subsistence level, led by the tourist sector, which 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. The vulnerability of the tourist sector was illustrated by the sharp drop in 1991-92 due largely to the Gulf war. Although the industry has rebounded, the government recognizes the continuing need for upgrading the sector in the face of stiff international competition.

Electricity

capacity

30,000 kW

consumption per capita

1,399 kWh (1993)

production

110 million kWh

Exchange rates

Seychelles rupees (SRe) per US$1 - 4.9257 (January 1996), 4.7620 (1995), 5.0559 (1994), 5.1815 (1993), 5.1220 (1992), 5.2893 (1991)

Exports

$50 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

commodities

fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (re-exports)

partners

France 43%, UK 22%, Reunion 11%, (1992)

External debt

$181 million (1993 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $430 million (1993 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

GDP per capita

$6,000 (1993 est.)

GDP real growth rate

-2% (1993 est.)

Imports

$261 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

commodities

manufactured goods, food, petroleum products, tobacco, beverages, machinery and transportation equipment

partners

Singapore 16%, Bahrain 16%, South Africa, 14%, UK 13% (1992)

Industrial production growth rate

4% (1992)

Industries

tourism, processing of coconut and vanilla, fishing, coir (coconut fiber) rope factory, boat building, printing, furniture, beverage

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.9% (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)

Unemployment rate

9% (1987)

Branches

Army, Coast Guard, Marines, National Guard, Presidential Protection Unit, Police Force

Defense expenditures

$NA, NA% of GDP

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

21,547

males fit for military service

10,883 (1996 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios

34,000 (1992 est.)

Telephone system

domestic

radiotelephone communications between islands in the archipelago

international

direct radiotelephone communications with adjacent island countries and African coastal countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Telephones

8,300 (1982 est.)

Television broadcast stations

2

Televisions

8,200 (1991 est.) Defense

Airports

total

14

with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

1

with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m

5

with paved runways under 914 m

6

with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m

2 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

187 km

total

269 km

unpaved

82 km (1988 est.)

Merchant marine

none

Ports

Victoria

Railways

0 km