2023 Edition

Background

Seychelles was uninhabited prior to being discovered by Europeans early in the 16th century. A lengthy struggle between France and Great Britain for the islands ended in 1814, when they were ceded to the latter. 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, 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

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: 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

3 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

6.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 2.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 4.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest

88.5% (2018 est.)

other

5% (2018 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 contains less than 10%; a smaller percent 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

17.95% (male 8,999/female 8,524)

15-64 years

72.58% (male 37,677/female 33,177)

65 years and over

9.47% (2023 est.) (male 3,956/female 5,284)

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

12.1 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

6.4% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

45% (2023 est.)

Death rate

6.9 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Demographic profile

Seychelles has no indigenous population and was first permanently settled by a small group of French planters, African slaves, and South Indians in 1770. Seychelles’ modern population is composed of the descendants of French and later British settlers, Africans, and Indian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern traders and is concentrated on three of its 155 islands – the vast majority on Mahe and lesser numbers on Praslin and La Digue. Seychelles’ population grew rapidly during the second half of the 20th century, largely due to natural increase, but the pace has slowed because of fertility decline. The total fertility rate dropped sharply from 4.0 children per woman in 1980 to 1.9 in 2015, mainly as a result of a family planning program, free education and health care, and increased female labor force participation. Life expectancy has increased steadily, but women on average live 9 years longer than men, a difference that is higher than that typical of developed countries.The combination of reduced fertility and increased longevity has resulted in an aging population, which will put pressure on the government’s provision of pensions and health care. Seychelles’ sustained investment in social welfare services, such as free primary health care and education up to the post-secondary level, have enabled the country to achieve a high human development index score – among the highest in Africa. Despite some of its health and education indicators being nearly on par with Western countries, Seychelles has a high level of income inequality.An increasing number of migrant workers – mainly young men – have been coming to Seychelles in recent years to work in the construction and tourism industries. As of 2011, foreign workers made up nearly a quarter of the workforce. Indians are the largest non-Seychellois population – representing half of the country’s foreigners – followed by Malagasy.

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

11.4

potential support ratio

8.7 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

45

youth dependency ratio

33.6

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: 96.2% of population

improved: urban

urban: NA

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: 3.8% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: NA

Education expenditures

5.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Gross reproduction rate

0.89 (2023 est.)

Hospital bed density

3.6 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

female

7.6 deaths/1,000 live births

male

13.1 deaths/1,000 live births

total

10.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 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

80.9 years

male

72 years

total population

76.4 years (2023 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

96.4% (2018)

male

95.4%

total population

95.9%

Major urban areas - population

28,000 VICTORIA (capital) (2018)

Maternal mortality ratio

3 deaths/100,000 live births (2020)

Median age

female

38.8 years

male

37.7 years

total

38.2 years (2023 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Seychellois

noun

Seychellois (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

0.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

14% (2016)

Physicians density

2.25 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

Population

97,617 (2023 est.)

Population distribution

more than three-quarters of the population lives on the main island of Mahe; Praslin contains less than 10%; a smaller percent on La Digue and the outer islands as shown in this population distribution map

Population growth rate

0.6% (2023 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: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: NA

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: NA

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

16 years (2021)

male

13 years

total

15 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.14 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.75 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1.08 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Tobacco use

female

6.4% (2020 est.)

male

34% (2020 est.)

total

20.2% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.81 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

58.8% of total population (2023)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

15.6%

male

17.5%

total

16.5% (2020 est.)

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

Capital

etymology

founded as L'etablissement in 1778 by French colonists, the town was renamed in 1841 by the British after Queen VICTORIA (1819-1901); "victoria" is the Latin word for "victory"

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

amendments

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; amended several times, last in 2018

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 SECHELLES, the finance minister of France, in 1756

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); note - Ambassador JARDINE is posted in Mauritius but is accredited to Seychelles

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 Ian Dereck Joseph MADELEINE (since 1 December 2021)note - also Permanent Representative to the UN

consulate(s) general

New York

email address and website

seychelles@un.int; seychellesmission@sycun.orgForeign 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 Wavel RAMKALAWAN (since 26 October 2020); Vice President Ahmed AFIF (since 27 October 2020); the president is both chief of state and head of government

election results

2020: Wavel RAMKALAWAN elected president; Wavel RAMKALAWAN (LDS) 54.9%, Danny FAURE (US) 43.5%, other 1.6%2015:  President James Alix MICHEL reelected president in second round; percent of vote first round - James Alix MICHEL (PL) 47.8%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (SNP) 35.3%, other 16.9%; percent of vote second round - James Alix MICHEL 50.2%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN 49.8%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 22-24 October 2020; next presidential election due in 2025

head of government

President Wavel RAMKALAWAN (since 26 October 2020); Vice President Ahmed AFIF (since 27 October 2020)

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

Legislative branch

description

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (35 seats in the 2020-25 term; 26 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and up to 9 members elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - LDS 54.8%, US 42.3%, other 2.9%; seats by party - LDS 25, US 10; composition - men 27, women 8, percent of women 22.9%

elections

last held on 22-24 October 2020 (next to be held in October 2025); note - the election was originally scheduled for 2021 but was moved up a year and held alongside the presidential election in order to cut election costs

National anthem

lyrics/music

David Francois Marc ANDRE and George Charles Robert PAYET

name

"Koste Seselwa" (Seychellois Unite)

note

note: adopted 1996

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); national colors: blue, yellow, red, white, green

Political parties and leaders

Seychelles Party for Social Justice and Democracy or SPSJD [Vesna RAKIC]Seychellois Democratic Alliance or LDS (Linyon Demokratik Seselwa/Union Démocratique Seychelloise) (coalition includes SNP and SPSJD) [Roger MANCIENNE]Seychelles National Party or SNP [Wavel RAMKALAWAN]United Seychelles or US [Patrick HERMINIE]note: only parties with seats in the National Assembly listed

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

coconuts, vegetables, bananas, fruit, eggs, poultry, tomatoes, pork, tropical fruit, cassava

Budget

expenditures

$586 million (2019 est.)

revenues

$601 million (2019 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

B+ (2020)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Current account balance

Current account balance 2019

-$53.115 million (2019 est.)

Current account balance 2020

-$173.236 million (2020 est.)

Current account balance 2021

-$154.259 million (2021 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2018

$4.613 billion (2018 est.)

Debt - external 2019

$4.802 billion (2019 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 2017

13.648 (2017 est.)

Exchange rates 2018

13.911 (2018 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

14.033 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

17.617 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

16.921 (2021 est.)

Exports

Exports 2019

$2.085 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports 2020

$1.24 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports 2021

$1.751 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports - commodities

refined petroleum, fish, recreational boats, cigarettes, animal meal (2019)

Exports - partners

United Arab Emirates 17%, United Kingdom 13%, France 12%, British Virgin Islands 11%, Zambia 9%, Mauritius 5%, Japan 5% (2019)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

79.4% (2017 est.)

government consumption

34.4% (2017 est.)

household consumption

52.7% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-93.2% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

26.7% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

0% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

2.5% (2017 est.)

industry

13.8% (2017 est.)

services

83.7% (2017 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.748 billion (2019 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%

15.4% (2007)

lowest 10%

4.7%

Imports

Imports 2019

$2.025 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports 2020

$1.332 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports 2021

$1.821 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports - commodities

recreational boats, refined petroleum, fish, aircraft, cars (2019)

Imports - partners

United Arab Emirates 21%, Qatar 13%, British Virgin Islands 7%, Germany 6%, France 6%, China 5%, Spain 5%, South Africa 5% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

3.63% (2021 est.)

Industries

fishing, tourism, beverages

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018

3.7% (2018 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

2.07% (2019 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020

8.28% (2020 est.)

Labor force

51,000 (2018 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

3%

industry

23%

services

74% (2006)

Population below poverty line

25.3% (2018 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

69.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2017

63.6% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$2.867 billion (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$2.647 billion (2020 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$2.855 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2019

3.1% (2019 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2020

-7.69% (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2021

7.86% (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2019

$29,400 (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$26,900 (2020 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2021

$28,800 (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2019

$580.546 million (31 December 2019 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2020

$559.682 million (31 December 2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2021

$702.585 million (31 December 2021 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

31.52% (of GDP) (2018 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2016

2.7% (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate 2017

3% (2017 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

15.6%

male

17.5%

total

16.5% (2020 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas

0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

1.156 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

total emissions

1.156 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Coal

consumption

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

exports

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

production

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves

0 metric tons (2019 est.)

Electricity

consumption

463.894 million kWh (2019 est.)

exports

0 kWh (2020 est.)

imports

0 kWh (2020 est.)

installed generating capacity

157,000 kW (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

30 million kWh (2019 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2021)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

fossil fuels

99.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar

0.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2019

163.06 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

exports

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

imports

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

production

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

proven reserves

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil and lease condensate exports

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

0 barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

7,500 bbl/day (2019 est.)

total petroleum production

0 bbl/day (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

7,225 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

36 (2020 est.)

total

34,966 (2020 est.)

Broadcast media

the national broadcaster, Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), which is funded by taxpayer money, operates the only terrestrial TV station, which provides local programming and airs broadcasts from international services; a privately owned Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) channel also provides local programming multi-channel cable and satellite TV are available through 2 providers; the national broadcaster operates 1 AM and 1 FM radio station; there are 2 privately operated radio stations; transmissions of 2 international broadcasters are accessible in Victoria (2019)

Internet country code

.sc

Internet users

percent of population

82% (2021 est.)

total

90,200 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line  is 18 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity is 173 telephones per 100 persons (2021)

general assessment

effective system; direct international calls to over 100 countries; radiotelephone communications between islands in the archipelago; 3 ISPs; use of Internet cafes' for access to Internet; 4G services and 5G pending (2020)

international

country code - 248; landing points for the PEACE and the SEAS submarine cables providing connectivity to Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia; direct radiotelephone communications with adjacent island countries and African coastal countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

18 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

19,027 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

192 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

205,140 (2022 est.)

Airports

14 (2021)

Airports - with paved runways

7

note

note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

7

note

note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

S7

Heliports

1 (2021)

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 6, oil tanker 7, other 18

total

31 (2022)

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

7.79 million (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

455,201 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

7

number of registered air carriers

1 (2020)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Victoria

Roadways

paved

514 km (2015)

total

526 km (2015)

unpaved

12 km (2015)

Military - note

formed in 1977, the SDF is one of the world's smallest militaries; its primary responsibility is maritime security, particularly countering illegal fishing, piracy, and drug smuggling; it was given police powers in 2022; the Seychelles has strong security ties with India (2023)

Military and security forces

Seychelles Defense Forces (SDF): Army (includes infantry, special forces, and a presidential security unit), Coast Guard, and Air ForceMinistry of Internal Affairs: Seychelles Police Force (includes unarmed police and an armed paramilitary Police Special Support Wing, and the Marine Police Unit) (2023)

note

note: the SDF reports to the president, who acts as minister of defense  

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 500-1,000 personnel (2023)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the SDF's inventory primarily consists of Soviet-era equipment delivered in the 1970s and 1980s; in recent years, the SDF has received limited amounts of more modern equipment, mostly donations of patrol boats and aircraft, from several suppliers led by China and India (2023)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2018

1.4% of GDP (2018 est.)

Military Expenditures 2019

1.3% of GDP (2019 est.)

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 service age and obligation

18-28 (18-25 for officers) years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; 6-year initial commitment; no conscription (2023)

Disputes - international

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

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

0.61 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

0.1 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

16.96 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Climate

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

Environment - current issues

water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater; water pollution; biodiversity maintainance

Environment - international 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

Land use

agricultural land

6.5% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 2.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 4.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest

88.5% (2018 est.)

other

5% (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0.09% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

900,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial

3.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal

10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

58.8% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

48,000 tons (2012 est.)