2003 Edition

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), Grand' Anse (on Praslin), La Digue, La Riviere Anglaise, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe La Rue, Port Glaud, Saint Louis, Takamaka

Age structure

0-14 years: 27.3% (male 11,116; female 10,844) 15-64 years: 66.5% (male 26,068; female 27,425) 65 years and over: 6.2% (male 1,654; female 3,362) (2003 est.)

Area

land

455 sq km

total

455 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Background

A lengthy struggle between France and Great Britain for the islands ended in 1814, when they were ceded to the latter. Independence came in 1976. Socialist rule was brought to a close with a new constitution and free elections in 1993. The most recent presidential elections were held 31 August-2 September 2001. President RENE, who has served since 1977, was re-elected. Geography Seychelles

Birth rate

16.89 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Capital

Victoria

Climate

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

Coastline

491 km

Constitution

18 June 1993

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Seychelles

conventional short form

Seychelles

Death rate

6.49 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Morne Seychellois 905 m

lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

signed, but not ratified

Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Ethnic groups

mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab

Executive branch

chief of state

President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of

Geographic coordinates

4 35 S, 55 40 E

Geography - note

40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands People Seychelles

Government type

republic

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA%

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Independence

29 June 1976 (from UK)

Infant mortality rate

female

11.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

20.75 deaths/1,000 live births

total

16.41 deaths/1,000 live births

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

2.22%

other

84.45% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

13.33%

Languages

English (official), French (official), Creole

Legal system

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

76.88 years (2003 est.)

male

65.78 years

total population

71.25 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

60% (1971 est.) Government Seychelles

male

56%

total population

58%

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

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

Median age

female

27.9 years (2002)

male

25.8 years

total

26.9 years

National holiday

Constitution Day (National Day), 18 June (1993)

Nationality

adjective

Seychellois

noun

Seychellois (singular and plural)

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

fish, copra, cinnamon trees

Net migration rate

-5.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Population

80,469 (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate

0.46% (2003 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 86.6%, Anglican 6.8%, other Christian 2.5%, other 4.1%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/female

Suffrage

17 years of age; universal

Terrain

Mahe Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky, hilly; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs

Total fertility rate

1.79 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), bananas; broiler chickens; tuna fish

Airports

14 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total

7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4

under 914 m

2 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

7 914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m

4 (2002) Military Seychelles

Budget

expenditures

$262 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

revenues

$249 million

Currency

Seychelles rupee (SCR)

Currency code

SCR

Debt - external

$170 million (2002 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Seychelles; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to the Seychelles

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York, NY 10017

chief of mission

Ambassador Claude Sylvestre MOREL

Disputes - international

claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory) This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Economic aid - recipient

$16.4 million (1995)

Economy - overview

Since independence in 1976, per capita output in this Indian Ocean archipelago has expanded to roughly seven times the old near-subsistence level. Growth has been led by the tourist sector, which employs about 30% of the labor force and provides more than 70% of hard currency earnings, and by tuna fishing. 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 dependence on tourism by promoting the development of farming, fishing, and small-scale manufacturing. A sharp drop illustrated the vulnerability of the tourist sector in 1991-92 due largely to the Gulf war, and once again following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the US. Other issues facing the government are the curbing of the budget deficit, including the containment of social welfare costs, and further privatization of public enterprises. Growth slowed in 1998-2002, due to sluggish tourist and tuna sectors. Also, tight controls on exchange rates and the scarcity of foreign exchange have impaired short-term economic prospects. The black market value of the Seychelles rupee is half the official exchange rate; without a devaluation of the currency the tourist sector should remain sluggish as vacationers seek cheaper destinations such as Comoros, Mauritius, and Madagascar.

Electricity - consumption

148.8 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

160 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Exchange rates

Seychelles rupees per US dollar - 5.48 (2002), 5.86 (2001), 5.71 (2000), 5.34 (1999), 5.26 (1998)

Exports

$235 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities

canned tuna, frozen fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (reexports)

Exports - partners

UK 28.6%, France 20%, Italy 8.7%, US 8.4%, Spain 6.7%, Japan 6.7%, Netherlands 6.6%, Thailand 6.4% (2002)

FAX

[1] (212) 972-1786

telephone

[1] (212) 972-1785

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Seychelles

Flag description

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

GDP

purchasing power parity - $626 million (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

2.4%

industry

24.4%

services

73.2% (2000)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $7,800 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.5% (2002 est.)

Highways

paved

315 km

total

373 km

unpaved

58 km (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$380 million f.o.b. (2002)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals

Imports - partners

Saudi Arabia 15.6%, France 12.8%, Spain 9.9%, Italy 9.7%, South Africa 8.4%, Singapore 7.3%, UK 6.1%, Taiwan 4.2% (2002)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

fishing; tourism; processing of coconuts and vanilla, coir (coconut fiber) rope, boat building, printing, furniture; beverages

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.5% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Internet country code

.sc

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

9,000 (2002) Transportation Seychelles

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal; Supreme Court; judges for both courts are appointed by the president

Labor force

30,900 (1996)

Labor force - by occupation

industry 19%, services 71%, agriculture 10% (1989)

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (34 seats - 25 elected by popular vote, 9 allocated on a proportional basis to parties winning at least 10% of the vote; members serve five-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - SPPF 54.3%, SNP 42.6%, DP 3.1%; seats by party - SPPF 23, SNP 11

elections

last held 4-6 December 2002 (next held by 2007)

note

the 9 awarded seats are apportioned according to the percentage that each party won of the total vote

Merchant marine

convenience

South Africa 2 (2002 est.)

note

includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of

ships by type

cargo 3, chemical tanker 1, container 1

total

5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 37,281 GRT/55,702 DWT

Military branches

Army, Coast Guard (includes Air Wing), Presidential Protection Unit (includes Presidential Guard), Police Force (includes Police Mobile Unit, a special weapons and tactics unit capable of assisting the Army in maintaining internal stability)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$12.8 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.8% (FY02) Transnational Issues Seychelles

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

23,444 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

11,639 (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

4,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party or DP [James MANCHAM, Daniel BELLE]; Mouvement Seychellois pour la Democratie [Jacques HODOUL]; Seychelles National Party or SNP (formerly the United Opposition or UO) [Wavel RAMKALAWAN]; Seychelles People's Progressive Front or SPPF [France Albert RENE, James MICHEL] - the governing party

Political pressure groups and leaders

Roman Catholic Church; trade unions

Population below poverty line

NA%

Ports and harbors

Victoria

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios

42,000 (1997)

Railways

0 km

Telephone system

domestic

radiotelephone communications between islands in the archipelago

general assessment

effective system

international

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

Telephones - main lines in use

19,635 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

16,316 (1999)

Television broadcast stations

2 (plus 9 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

11,000 (1997)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Waterways

none