2005 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: 26.4% (male 10,839/female 10,601) 15-64 years: 67.4% (male 26,709/female 28,025) 65 years and over: 6.2% (male 1,622/female 3,392) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

15 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

7 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.) Military Seychelles

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 in 2001; President RENE, who had served since 1977, was re-elected. In April 2004 RENE stepped down and Vice President James MICHEL was sworn in as president. Geography Seychelles

Birth rate

16.22 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$298.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

revenues

$318.3 million

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

Currency (code)

Seychelles rupee (SCR)

Currency code

SCR

Current account balance

$-98.42 million (2004 est.)

Death rate

6.34 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$218.1 million (2004 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

FAX

[1] (212) 972-1786

telephone

[1] (212) 972-1785

Disputes - international

together with Mauritius, Seychelles claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory) This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

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. Growth slowed in 1998-2002, and fell in 2003, due to sluggish tourist and tuna sectors, but resumed in 2004, erasing a persistent budget deficit. 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 may remain sluggish as vacationers seek cheaper destinations such as Comoros, Mauritius, and Madagascar.

Electricity - consumption

202.8 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

218 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab

Exchange rates

Seychelles rupees per US dollar - 5.5 (2004), 5.4007 (2003), 5.48 (2002), 5.8575 (2001), 5.7138 (2000)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President James MICHEL (since 14 April 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

France Albert RENE re-elected president; percent of vote - France Albert RENE (SPPF) 54.19%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (UO) 44.95%, Philippe BOULLE 0.86%; note - the first time that presidential elections have been held separately from legislative elections; France Albert RENE stepped down 14 April 2004 and Vice President James MICHEL was sworn in as president

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 31 August-2 September 2001 (next to be held NA 2006)

head of government

President James MICHEL (since 14 April 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

Exports

$256.2 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

UK 27.7%, France 15.8%, Spain 12.6%, Japan 8.6%, Italy 7.5%, Germany 5.6% (2004)

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 - composition by sector

agriculture

2.8%

industry

28.7%

services

68.9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita

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

GDP - real growth rate

1.5% (2004 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$626 million (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

4 35 S, 55 40 E

Geography - note

41 granitic and about 75 coralline islands People Seychelles

Government type

republic

Highways

paved

315 km

total

373 km

unpaved

58 km (1997 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports

$393.4 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals

Imports - partners

Saudi Arabia 15.5%, Spain 13.3%, France 10.3%, Singapore 7%, South Africa 6.8%, Italy 6.7%, UK 4.7% (2004)

Independence

29 June 1976 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

NA

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

11.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

male

19.65 deaths/1,000 live births

total

15.53 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5% (2004 est.)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.sc

Internet hosts

264 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

11,700 (2002) Transportation Seychelles

Investment (gross fixed)

39.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Irrigated land

NA sq km

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

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

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

2.22%

other

84.45% (2001)

permanent crops

13.33%

Languages

Creole 91.8%, English 4.9% (official), other 3.1%, unspecified 0.2% (2002 census)

Legal system

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

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

elections

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.4 years (2005 est.)

male

66.41 years

total population

71.82 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

92.3% (2003 est.) Government Seychelles

male

91.4%

total population

91.9%

Location

archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 21,612 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 16,122 (2005 est.)

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

28.76 years (2005 est.)

male

26.62 years

total

27.7 years

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 1, chemical tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 1

foreign-owned

1 (Nigeria 1) (2005)

total

5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 42,223 GRT/63,538 DWT

Military branches

Seychelles Defense Force

Army, Coast Guard (includes Navy Wing, Air Wing), National Guard (2005)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$12.3 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.8% (2004) Transnational Issues Seychelles

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)

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

-5.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

4,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA

Oil - imports

NA

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

81,188 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Population growth rate

0.43% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

Victoria

Public debt

122.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios

42,000 (1997)

Religions

Roman Catholic 82.3%, Anglican 6.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.1%, other Christian 3.4%, Hindu 2.1%, Muslim 1.1%, other non-Christian 1.5%, unspecified 1.5%, none 0.6% (2002 census)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$70.94 million (2004 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female

total population

0.93 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Suffrage

17 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

radiotelephone communications between islands in the archipelago

general assessment

effective system

international

country code - 248; direct radiotelephone communications with adjacent island countries and African coastal countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

21,700 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

54,500 (2003)

Television broadcast stations

2 (plus 9 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

11,000 (1997)

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

1.75 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA