2015 Edition

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. Single-party rule was brought to a close with a new constitution and free elections in 1993. President France-Albert RENE, who had served since 1977, was reelected in 2001, but stepped down in 2004. Vice President James Alix MICHEL took over the presidency and in July 2006 was elected to a new five-year term; he was reelected in May 2011.

Area

land

455 sq km

total

455 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

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

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, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

4 35 S, 55 40 E

Geography - note

smallest African country; 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

Irrigated land

2.6 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land 2.2%; permanent crops 4.3%; permanent pasture 0%

agricultural land

6.5%

forest

88.5%

other

5% (2011 est.)

Location

archipelago 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

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

fish, coconuts (copra), cinnamon trees

Terrain

Mahe Group is volcanic with a narrow coastal strip and rocky, hilly interior; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs

Age structure

0-14 years

20.53% (male 9,731/female 9,243)

15-24 years

13.92% (male 6,740/female 6,125)

25-54 years

49.4% (male 24,076/female 21,586)

55-64 years

8.74% (male 4,190/female 3,888)

65 years and over

7.41% (male 2,670/female 4,181) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

14.19 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Death rate

6.89 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

9.9%

potential support ratio

10.1% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

43.5%

youth dependency ratio

33.6%

Drinking water source

urban: 95.7% of population

rural: 95.7% of population

total: 95.7% of population

urban: 4.3% of population

rural: 4.3% of population

total: 4.3% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

3.6% of GDP (2011)

Ethnic groups

mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab

Health expenditures

4% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

3.6 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

female

7.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

13.12 deaths/1,000 live births

total

10.49 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.2 years (2015 est.)

male

69.92 years

total population

74.49 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

92.3% (2012 est.)

male

91.4%

total population

91.8%

Major urban areas - population

VICTORIA (capital) 26,000 (2014)

Median age

female

35 years (2015 est.)

male

33.9 years

total

34.4 years

Nationality

adjective

Seychellois

noun

Seychellois (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

26.9% (2014)

Physicians density

1.07 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

Population

92,430 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

0.83% (2015 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 10.6% (Anglican 6.1%, Pentecoastal Assembly 1.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.2%, other Protestant 1.6), other Christian 2.4%, Hindu 2.4%, Muslim 1.6%, other non-Christian 1.1%, unspecified 4.8%, none 0.9% (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 98.4% of population

rural: 98.4% of population

total: 98.4% of population

urban: 1.6% of population

rural: 1.6% of population

total: 1.6% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

13 years (2012)

male

13 years

total

13 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.1 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.12 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1.08 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.64 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1.05 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.87 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

14.2% (2011 est.)

male

8.4%

total

11%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.14% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

53.9% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

25 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, Inner Islands, La Riviere Anglaise, Les Mamalles, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe Larue, Port Glaud, Roche Caiman, Saint Louis, Takamaka

Capital

geographic coordinates

4 37 S, 55 27 E

name

Victoria

time difference

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

Citizenship

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

Constitution

previous 1970, 1979; latest drafted May 1993, approved by referendum 18 June 1993, effective 23 June 1993; amended many times, last in 2011 (2015)

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Seychelles

conventional short form

Seychelles

local long form

Republic of Seychelles

local short form

Seychelles

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Marie-Louise Cecile POTTER (since 6 September 2012)

FAX

[1] (212) 972-1786

telephone

[1] (212) 972-1785

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President James Alix MICHEL (since 14 April 2004); Vice President Danny FAURE (since 1 July 2010); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

election results

President James MICHEL reelected president; percent of vote in second round - James MICHEL (PP) 50.2%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (SNP) 49.8%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in two rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for 2 more terms); election last held on 3-5 December with runoff on 16-18 December 2015 (next to be held NA)

head of government

President James Alix MICHEL (since 14 April 2004); Vice President Danny FAURE (since 1 July 2010)

Flag description

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, green the land and natural environment

Government type

republic

Independence

29 June 1976 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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 (observer)

Judicial branch

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 puisine 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 Committee, 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 appointed until retirement at age 70

subordinate courts

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

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

description

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (34 seats; 25 members directly elected in single-member constituencies by simple majority vote and 9 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - PL 88.6%, PDM 10.9%, independent 0.6%; seats by party - PL 33, PDM 1; note - the SNP and NDP boycotted the 2011 elections

elections

last held on 29 September - 1 October 2011 (next to be held in 2016); note - the National Assembly was dissolved in July 2011 resulting in early elections

National anthem

lyrics/music

David Francois Marc ANDRE and George Charles Robert PAYET

name

"Koste Seselwa" (Seychellois Unite)

note

adopted 1996

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

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

Political parties and leaders

People's Party (Parti Lepep) or PL [James Alix MICHEL] (formerly SPPF)

Popular Democratic Movement or PDM [David PIERRE]

Seychelles National Party or SNP [Wavel RAMKALAWAN] (formerly the United Opposition or UO)

Seselwa (Seychelles) United Party or SUP [Robert ERNESTA] (formerly the New Democratic Party or NDP)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (manioc, tapioca), copra, bananas; tuna

Budget

expenditures

$450.2 million (2014 est.)

revenues

$485 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

2.4% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

11.17% (31 December 2010)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

11.65% (31 December 2014 est.)

12.29% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$299 million (2014 est.)

-$162 million (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$2.823 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$2.714 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Economy - overview

Since independence in 1976, per capita output in this Indian Ocean archipelago has expanded to roughly seven times the pre-independence, near-subsistence level, moving the island into the upper-middle-income group of countries. 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 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. In 2008, having depleted its foreign exchange reserves, Seychelles defaulted on interest payments due on a $230 million Eurobond, requested assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and immediately enacted a number of significant structural reforms, including liberalization of the exchange rate, reform of the public sector to include layoffs, and the selling of some state assets. In December 2013, the IMF declared that Seychelles had successfully transitioned to a market-based economy with full employment and a fiscal surplus.

Exchange rates

Seychelles rupees (SCR) per US dollar -

12.747 (2014 est.)

12.747 (2013 est.)

13.7 (2012 est.)

12.381 (2011 est.)

12.068 (2010 est.)

Exports

$538.9 million (2014 est.)

$629.2 million (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

canned tuna, frozen fish, petroleum products (reexports)

Exports - partners

France 24.8%, UK 18.6%, Italy 11.9%, Japan 9.2%, Mauritius 6.2%, Spain 4.2% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

84.1%

government consumption

24.4%

household consumption

53%

imports of goods and services

-99.6%

investment in fixed capital

37.9%

investment in inventories

0.2%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

3%

industry

14.6%

services

82.4% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$25,800 (2014 est.)

$25,000 (2013 est.)

$23,500 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.3% (2014 est.)

6% (2013 est.)

6.6% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.423 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.424 billion (2014 est.)

$2.346 billion (2013 est.)

$2.212 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

16.3% of GDP (2014 est.)

26.5% of GDP (2013 est.)

17.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

15.4% (2007)

lowest 10%

4.7%

Imports

$1.081 billion (2014 est.)

$1.075 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals, other manufactured goods

Imports - partners

Saudi Arabia 23.6%, Spain 9.8%, France 5.2%, South Africa 4.6% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

-0.3% (2014 est.)

Industries

fishing, tourism, beverages

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.4% (2014 est.)

4.3% (2013 est.)

Labor force

39,560 (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

3%

industry

23%

services

74% (2006)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

65.3% of GDP (2014 est.)

64.1% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$549.8 million (31 December 2015 est.)

$465 million (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of broad money

$567.8 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$529.3 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$427.3 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$498.9 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$407.2 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$431.2 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

34.1% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

3% (2014 est.)

3.3% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

1.304 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Electricity - consumption

293.9 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

89,000 kW (2012 est.)

Electricity - production

316 million kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

6,800 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

6,805 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Broadcast media

the government operates the only terrestrial TV station, which provides local programming and airs broadcasts from international services; multi-channel cable and satellite TV are available; the government operates 1 AM and 1 FM radio station; transmissions of 2 international broadcasters are accessible in Victoria (2007)

Internet country code

.sc

Internet users

percent of population

53.8% (2014 est.)

total

49,300

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 2 (2001)

Telephone system

domestic

combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 170 telephones per 100 persons; 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) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

23 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

21,200

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

165 (2014 est.)

total

151,300

Television broadcast stations

2 (plus 9 repeaters) (1997)

Airports

14 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

5

total

7

under 914 m

1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

5 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

2

total

7

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 1, carrier 1, chemical tanker 6, petroleum tanker 1

foreign-owned

3 (Hong Kong 1, Nigeria 1, South Africa 1) (2010)

total

9

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Victoria

Roadways

paved

490 km

total

508 km

unpaved

18 km (2010)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

23,996 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

26,257

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

19,891 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

20,231

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

650 (2010 est.)

male

686

Military branches

Seychelles People's Defense Forces (SPDF): Army, Coast Guard (includes Naval Wing, Air Wing), National Guard (2015)

Military expenditures

0.89% of GDP (2012)

0.82% of GDP (2011)

0.89% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service (younger with parental consent); no conscription (2012)

Disputes - international

Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islands (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory)