Seychelles
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. Independence came in 1976. Following a coup d’etat in 1977, the country was a socialist one-party state until adopting a new constitution and holding 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 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.

geography

location

4.35° S, 55. 40° E
archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar

area

455 sq km
land
455 sq km
water
0 sq km

land boundaries

0 km

coastline

491 km

climate

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

terrain

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

elevation

lowest point
Indian Ocean
0
highest point
Morne Seychellois
905

natural resources

  • fish
  • coconuts
  • copra
  • cinnamon trees

land use

arable land
2.2 %
permanent crops
4.3 %
permanent pasture
0 %
forest
88.5 %
other
5 %

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

people

population

  • 95,981
  • 198
    global rank

nationality

  • Seychellois (singular and plural)
    noun
  • Seychellois
    adjective

ethnic groups

  • predominantly creole ; also French
  • Indian
  • Chinese
  • and Arab populations

languages

  • Seychellois Creole
    official
  • English
    official
  • French
    official
  • other
  • unspecified

religions

Roman Catholic
76.2 %
Protestant
10.5 %
other Christian
2.4 %
Hindu
2.4 %
Muslim
1.6 %
other non-Christian
1.1 %
unspecified
4.8 %
none
0.9 %

birth rate

  • 12.8
    per 1,000 population
  • 148
    global rank

death rate

  • 7.1
    per 1,000 population
  • 122
    global rank

urban population

57.5 %

major urban areas

  • Victoria
    pop. 28,000

life expectancy

  • 75.6
    total population
  • 112
    global rank
71.1
male
80.2
female

adult obesity rate

  • 14%
    percent of adults
  • 130
    global rank

government

country name

    conventional

  • Republic of Seychelles
    long form
  • Seychelles
    short form

    local

  • Republic of Seychelles
    long form
  • Seychelles
    short form

government type

presidential republic

capital

Victoria
4.37 S, 55.27 E

independence

national holidays

  • Constitution Day
    18 June
  • Independence Day
    29 June

legal system

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

age of suffrage

18

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

national colors

  • blue
  • yellow
  • red
  • white
  • green

national anthem

"Koste Seselwa" (Seychellois Unite)

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 high income group of countries. Growth has been led by the tourism sector, which directly employs about 26% of the labor force and directly and indirectly accounts for more than 55% of GDP, and by tuna fishing. In recent years, the government has encouraged foreign investment to upgrade hotels and tourism industry services. At the same time, the government has moved to reduce the dependence on tourism by promoting the development of the offshore financial, information, and communication sectors and renewable energy. In 2008, having depleted its foreign exchange reserves, Seychelles defaulted on interest payments due on a $230 million Eurobond, requested assistance from the 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 sale 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. However, state-owned enterprises still play a prominent role in the economy. Effective 1 January 2017, Seychelles was no longer eligible for trade benefits under the US African Growth and Opportunities Act after having gained developed country status. Seychelles grew at 5% in 2017 because of a strong tourism sector and low commodity prices. The Seychellois Government met the IMF’s performance criteria for 2017 but recognizes a need to make additional progress to reduce high income inequality, represented by a Gini coefficient of 46.8. As a very small open economy dependent on tourism, Seychelles remains vulnerable to developments such as economic downturns in countries that supply tourists, natural disasters, and changes in local climatic conditions and ocean temperature. One of the main challenges facing the government is implementing strategies that will increase Seychelles' long-term resilience to climate change without weakening economic growth.

GDP

2,750,000,000 USD
2017

agriculture products

  • coconuts
  • cinnamon
  • vanilla
  • sweet potatoes
  • cassava
  • manioc
  • tapioca
  • copra
  • bananas
  • tuna

poverty level

39.3%
2013

budget

  • 593,400,000
    revenue (USD)
  • 600,700,000
    expenditures (USD)

communications

telephones

    fixed lines

  • 20,290
    total subscriptions
  • 177
    global rank

    mobile cellular

  • 178,946
    total subscriptions
  • 187
    global rank

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

.sc
country code

    users

  • 55,616
    total
  • 58.77
    % of population
  • 194
    global rank

energy

electricity access

100%
2016

transportation

air transport

    national system

  • 1
    registered air carriers
  • 497,496
    annual passenger traffic

    airports

  • 14
    total
  • 7
    paved

roadways

526 km
total length

military

expenditures

expenditures here

service age

18