2020 Edition

Background

Seychelles was uninhabited before Europeans discovered the islands early in the 16th century. After a lengthy struggle, France eventually ceded control of the islands to Great Britain in 1814. During colonial rule, a plantation-based economy developed that relied on imported labor, primarily from European colonies in Africa. Seychelles gained independence in 1976 through negotiations with Great Britain. In 1977, Prime Minister France-Albert RENE launched a coup against the country’s first president, and Seychelles became a socialist one-party state until adopting a new constitution and holding elections in 1993. RENE continued to lead Seychelles through two election cycles until he stepped down in 2004. Vice President James Alix MICHEL took over the presidency and in 2006 was elected to a new five-year term; he was reelected in 2011 and again in 2015. In 2016, James MICHEL resigned and handed over the presidency to his vice-president, Danny FAURE. In 2020, Wavel RAMKALAWAN was elected president, the first time an opposition candidate has won the presidency.

Area

land

455 sq km

total

455 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

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

highest point

Morne Seychellois 905 m

lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

Geographic coordinates

4 35 S, 55 40 E

Geography - note

the smallest African country in terms of both area and population; the constitution of the Republic of Seychelles lists 155 islands, including 42 granitic and 113 coralline; the largest island by far is Mahe, which is home to about 90% of the population and is the site of the capital city of Victoria

Irrigated land

3 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

3.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)

forest

58.6% (2023 est.)

other

38% (2023 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

Population distribution

more than three quarters of the population lives on the main island of Mahe; Praslin is home to less than 10%, and a smaller percentage is on La Digue and the outer islands, as shown in this population distribution map

Terrain

Mahe Group is volcanic with a narrow coastal strip and rocky, hilly interior; others are relatively flat coral atolls, or elevated reefs; sits atop the submarine Mascarene Plateau

Age structure

0-14 years

17.7% (male 8,912/female 8,439)

15-64 years

72.4% (male 37,841/female 33,210)

65 years and over

10% (2024 est.) (male 4,220/female 5,565)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

4.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

4.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

9.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.49 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

11.59 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

44.6% (2022 est.)

Death rate

7.02 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

13.8 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio

7.3 (2024 est.)

total dependency ratio

38.2 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio

24.4 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: total

total: 96.4% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 3.6% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

4.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

10.7% national budget (2025 est.)

Ethnic groups

predominantly Creole (mainly of East African and Malagasy heritage); also French, Indian, Chinese, and Arab populations

Gross reproduction rate

0.89 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

5.3% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

10.2% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

3.2 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

7.4 deaths/1,000 live births

male

12.8 deaths/1,000 live births

total

10 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

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

81.1 years

male

72.2 years

total population

76.6 years (2024 est.)

Major urban areas - population

28,000 VICTORIA (capital) (2018)

Maternal mortality ratio

42 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

39.4 years

male

38.2 years

total

39.2 years (2025 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Seychellois

noun

Seychellois (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

14% (2016)

Physician density

2.25 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

Population

female

47,214

male

50,973

total

98,187 (2024 est.)

Population growth rate

0.53% (2025 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 10.5% (Anglican 6.1%, Pentecostal Assembly 1.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.2%, other Protestant 1.7%), 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

improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

15 years (2023 est.)

male

13 years (2023 est.)

total

13 years (2023 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.14 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.76 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1.08 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

5.2% (2025 est.)

male

34.2% (2025 est.)

total

20.5% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.8 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

58.8% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

27 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, Ile Persévérance I, Ile Persévérance II, La Digue, La Rivière Anglaise, Les Mamelles, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe Larue, Port Glaud, Roche Caiman, Saint Louis, Takamaka

Capital

etymology

the British named the town Port Victoria in 1841 after Queen VICTORIA; the name was later shortened

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

amendment process

proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the National Assembly; passage of amendments affecting the country’s sovereignty, symbols and languages, the supremacy of the constitution, fundamental rights and freedoms, amendment procedures, and dissolution of the Assembly also requires approval by at least 60% of voters in a referendum

history

previous 1970, 1979; latest drafted May 1993, approved by referendum 18 June 1993, effective 23 June 1993

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Seychelles

conventional short form

Seychelles

etymology

named by French Captain Corneille Nicholas MORPHEY after Jean Moreau de SÉCHELLES, the finance minister of France, in 1756; the British changed the spelling of the name in 1815 when they acquired the islands

local long form

Republic of Seychelles

local short form

Seychelles

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Henry V. JARDINE (since 22 February 2023) and Chargé d’Affaires Adham LOUTFI (since 6 October 2023); note - Ambassador JARDINE is posted in Mauritius and is accredited to Seychelles, and Chargé d’Affaires LOUTFI is posted in Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles

email address and website

USEmbassySeychelles@state.gov https://sc.usembassy.gov/

embassy

2nd Floor, Oliaji Trade Center, Victoria Mahe, Seychelles; note - US Embassy in Seychelles reopened on 1 June 2023 after having been closed in 1996

telephone

[248] 422 5256

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

685 Third Avenue, Suite 1107, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10017

chief of mission

Ambassador Vivianne FOCK TAVE (since 16 December 2025); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN

email address and website

seychellesmission@sycun.org Foreign Affairs Department Republic of Seychelles » United States of America (mfa.gov.sc)

FAX

[1] (212) 972-1786

telephone

[1] (212) 972-1785

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President Patrick HERMINIE (since 26 October 2025)

election results

2025: Patrick HERMINIE elected president; Patrick HERMINIE (US) 52.7%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (LDS) 47.3%

election/appointment process

president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)

expected date of next election

2030

head of government

President Patrick HERMINIE (since 26 October 2025)

most recent election date

9 October 2025

Flag

description: five expanding bands of blue, yellow, red, white, and green, radiating from the bottom left corner meaning: the bands symbolize a dynamic new country moving into the future; blue stands for the sky and sea, yellow for the sun giving light and life, red for the people's determination to work for the future in unity and love, white for social justice and harmony, and green for the land and natural environment

Government type

presidential 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

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 puisne 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 Authority, 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 serve until retirement at age 70

subordinate courts

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

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

electoral system

mixed system

expected date of next election

September 2030

legislative structure

unicameral

legislature name

National Assembly

most recent election date

9/27/2025

number of seats

34 (all directly elected)

parties elected and seats per party

United Seychelles (US) (19); Seychelles Democratic Alliance (Linyon Demokratik Seselwa, LDS) (15)

percentage of women in chamber

26.5%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 1996

lyrics/music

David Francois Marc ANDRE and George Charles Robert PAYET

title

"Koste Seselwa" (Seychellois Unite)

National color(s)

blue, yellow, red, white, green

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Aldabra Atoll; Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve

total World Heritage Sites

2 (both natural)

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

coco de mer (sea coconut)

Political parties

Seychelles Party for Social Justice and Democracy or SPSJD Seychellois Democratic Alliance or LDS (Linyon Demokratik Seselwa/Union Démocratique Seychelloise) Seychelles National Party or SNP United Seychelles or US

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

coconuts, vegetables, bananas, eggs, chicken, pork, fruits, tomatoes, tropical fruits, cassava (2023)

Budget

expenditures

$728.171 million (2023 est.)

revenues

$695.973 million (2023 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2021

-$160.168 million (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$141.648 million (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$155.194 million (2023 est.)

Economic overview

high-income Indian Ocean island economy; rapidly growing tourism sector; major tuna exporter; offshore financial hub; environmentally fragile and investing in ocean rise mitigation; recently discovered offshore oil potential; successful anticorruption efforts

Exchange rates

Currency

Seychelles rupees (SCR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

17.617 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

16.921 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

14.273 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

14.018 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

14.53 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2021

$1.751 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$2.247 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$2.375 billion (2023 est.)

Exports - commodities

fish, scrap iron, animal meal, broadcasting equipment, ships (2023)

Exports - partners

France 20%, Mauritius 12%, UK 9%, Japan 8%, Italy 8% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

85.2% (2024 est.)

government consumption

26.3% (2024 est.)

household consumption

74.6% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

-103.2% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

17.2% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

0% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

2.5% (2024 est.)

industry

12.3% (2024 est.)

services

65.8% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.167 billion (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018

32.1 (2018 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

23.9% (2018 est.)

lowest 10%

2.6% (2018 est.)

Imports

Imports 2021

$1.821 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$2.298 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$2.437 billion (2023 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, fish, ships, cars, plastic products (2023)

Imports - partners

UAE 32%, Spain 10%, France 6%, South Africa 6%, India 6% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

-6.4% (2024 est.)

Industries

fishing, tourism, beverages

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

2.6% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

-1% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

0.3% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

25.3% (2018 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2017

63.6% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$3.354 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$3.43 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$3.549 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

12.7% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

2.3% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

3.5% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$28,000 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$28,600 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$29,200 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2021

0.6% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0.5% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$638.961 million (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$682.794 million (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$773.678 million (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

26.18% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

Coal

imports

500 metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

581.227 million kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

156,000 kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

44.034 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

86.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

12.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

98.847 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

31 (2023 est.)

total

39,000 (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

state-run national broadcaster Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) has the only terrestrial TV station, which also airs broadcasts from international services; privately owned Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) channel; multi-channel cable and satellite TV available through 2 providers; SBC operates 1 AM and 1 FM radio station; 2 privately operated radio stations; transmissions of 2 international broadcasters available in Victoria (2019)

Internet country code

.sc

Internet users

percent of population

87% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

14 (2023 est.)

total subscriptions

18,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

192 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

165,000 (2023 est.)

Airports

16 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

S7

Heliports

6 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 6, oil tanker 6, other 18

total

30 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Victoria

large

0

medium

0

ports with oil terminals

1

small

0

total ports

1 (2024)

very small

1

Military - note

formed in 1977, the SDF is one of the World's smallest militaries; its primary responsibility is maritime security, including countering illegal fishing, piracy, and drug smuggling; it was given police powers in 2022; the Seychelles maintains close security ties with India, which has provided support to the SDF's maritime security operations (2025)

Military and security forces

Seychelles People's Defense Forces (SPDF; aka Seychelles Defense Forces, SDF): Army (includes infantry, special forces, and a presidential security unit), Coast Guard, and Air Force Ministry of Internal Affairs: Seychelles Police Force (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 500 active Defense Forces (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the SDF is lightly armed; its inventory consists of obsolescent armaments delivered in the 1970s and 1980s and some more recently donated equipment from Bahrain, China, India, and UAE (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2020

1.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-35 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2026)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

92 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

893,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

893,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

limited freshwater resources; water pollution; biodiversity

International environmental agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Particulate matter emissions

17.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

900,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

3.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

48,000 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

24.4% (2022 est.)