Introduction

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. President France-Albert RENE, who had served since 1977, was re-elected in 2001, but stepped down in 2004. Vice President James MICHEL took over the presidency and in July 2006 was elected to a new five-year term.
`

Geography

Location: |  |
`archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar`
Geographic coordinates: |  |
`4 35 S, 55 40 E`
Map references: |  |
`Africa`
Area: |  |
`total: 455 sq km country comparison to the world: 197 land: 455 sq km water: 0 sq km`
Area - comparative: |  |
`2.5 times the size of Washington, DC`
Land boundaries: |  |
`0 km`
Coastline: |  |
`491 km`
Maritime claims: |  |
`territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin`
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 granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky, hilly; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs`
Elevation extremes: |  |
`lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Morne Seychellois 905 m`
Natural resources: |  |
`fish, copra, cinnamon trees`
Land use: |  |
`arable land: 2.17% permanent crops: 13.04% other: 84.79% (2005)`
Irrigated land: |  |
`NA`
Natural hazards: |  |
`lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; short droughts possible`
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`
Geography - note: |  |
`41 granitic and about 75 coralline islands`

People

Population: |  |
`89,188 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 195`
Age structure: |  |
`0-14 years: 21.9% (male 9,987/female 9,501) 15-64 years: 71% (male 33,044/female 30,277) 65 years and over: 7.2% (male 2,399/female 3,980) (2011 est.)`
Median age: |  |
`total: 32.5 years male: 32 years female: 33 years (2011 est.)`
Population growth rate: |  |
`0.945% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 120`
Birth rate: |  |
`15.33 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 134`
Death rate: |  |
`6.91 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 139`
Net migration rate: |  |
`1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 53`
Urbanization: |  |
`urban population: 55% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 1.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)`
Major cities - population: |  |
`VICTORIA (capital) 26,000 (2009)`
Sex ratio: |  |
`at birth: 1.031 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2011 est.)`
Infant mortality rate: |  |
`total: 11.66 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 137 male: 14.62 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)`
Life expectancy at birth: |  |
`total population: 73.52 years country comparison to the world: 115 male: 68.87 years female: 78.32 years (2011 est.)`
Total fertility rate: |  |
`1.91 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 138`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`NA`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`NA`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`NA`
Nationality: |  |
`noun: Seychellois (singular and plural) adjective: Seychellois`
Ethnic groups: |  |
`mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab`
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)`
Languages: |  |
`Creole 91.8%, English (official) 4.9%, other 3.1%, unspecified 0.2% (2002 census)`
Literacy: |  |
`definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 91.8% male: 91.4% female: 92.3% (2002 census)`
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |  |
`total: 15 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2008)`
Education expenditures: |  |
`5% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 56`

Government

Country name: |  |
`conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles conventional short form: Seychelles local long form: Republic of Seychelles local short form: Seychelles`
Government type: |  |
`republic`
Capital: |  |
`name: Victoria geographic coordinates: 4 38 S, 55 27 E time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)`
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`
Independence: |  |
`29 June 1976 (from the UK)`
National holiday: |  |
`Constitution Day (National Day), 18 June (1993)`
Constitution: |  |
`18 June 1993`
Legal system: |  |
`mixed legal system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law`
International law organization participation: |  |
`has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction`
Suffrage: |  |
`17 years of age; universal`
Executive branch: |  |

`
chief of state: President James Alix MICHEL (since 14 April 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President James Alix MICHEL (since 14 April 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit theWorld Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for two more terms); election last held on 19-21 May 2011 (next to be held in 2016)
election results: President James MICHEL elected president; percent of vote - James MICHEL 55.5%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN 41.4%, Philippe BOULLE 1.7%, Ralph VOLCERE 1.5%; note - this was the second election in which President James MICHEL participated; he was originally sworn in as president after former president France Albert RENE stepped down in April 2004
`

Legislative branch: |  |
`unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (34 seats; 25 members elected by popular vote, 9 allocated on a proportional basis to parties winning at least 10% of the vote; members to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 10-12 May 2007 (next to be held in 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - SPPF 56.2%, SNP 43.8%; seats by party - SPPF 23, SNP 11`
Judicial branch: |  |
`Court of Appeal; Supreme Court; judges for both courts are appointed by the president`
Political parties and leaders: |  |
`Democratic Party or DP [James MANCHAM, Paul CHOW]; People's Party (Parti Lepep) or PL [France Albert RENE]; Seychelles People's Progressive Front or SPPF [James MICHEL](the governing party); Seychelles National Party or SNP [Wavel RAMKALAWAN] (formerly the United Opposition or UO)`
Political pressure groups and leaders: |  |
`Roman Catholic Church other: trade unions`
International organization participation: |  |
`ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)`
Diplomatic representation in the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador Jean Ronald JUMEAU chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785 FAX: [1] (212) 972-1786`
Diplomatic representation from the US: |  |
`the US does not have an embassy in Seychelles; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Seychelles`
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
`

National anthem: |  |
`name: "Koste Seselwa" (Seychellois Unite) lyrics/music: David Francois Marc ANDRE and George Charles Robert PAYET note: adopted 1996`

Economy

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. GDP grew about 7-8% per year in 2006-07, driven by tourism and a boom in tourism-related construction. The Seychelles rupee was allowed to depreciate in 2006 after being overvalued for years and fell by 10% in the first 9 months of 2007. Despite these actions, the Seychelles economy has struggled to maintain its gains and in 2008 suffered from food and oil price shocks, a foreign exchange shortage, high inflation, large financing gaps, and the global recession. In July 2008 the government defaulted on a Euro amortizing note worth roughly US$80 million, leading to a downgrading of Seychelles credit rating, but in October 2010 the EU approved a $2.9 million grant as part of a larger four-year program for Seychelles. In response to Seychelles successful implementation of tighter monetary and fiscal policies, the IMF upgraded Seychelles to a three-year extended fund facility (EFF) of $31 million in December 2009. In 2008, GDP fell more than 1% due to declining tourism, but the economy recovered in 2009-10 with a notable increase in tourist numbers for 2010.
`

GDP (purchasing power parity): |  |
`$2.053 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 185 $1.932 billion (2009 est.) $1.919 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP (official exchange rate): |  |
`$936 million (2010 est.)`
GDP - real growth rate: |  |
`6.2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 48 0.7% (2009 est.) -1.3% (2008 est.)`
GDP - per capita (PPP): |  |
`$23,200 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 56 $22,100 (2009 est.) $22,200 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP - composition by sector: |  |
`agriculture: 2.9% industry: 30.8% services: 66.2% (2009 est.)`
Labor force: |  |
`39,560 (2006) country comparison to the world: 196`
Labor force - by occupation: |  |
`agriculture: 3% industry: 23% services: 74% (2006)`
Unemployment rate: |  |
`2% (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 14`
Population below poverty line: |  |
`NA%`
Household income or consumption by percentage share: |  |
`lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%`
Investment (gross fixed): |  |
`36.2% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 6`
Budget: |  |
`revenues: $316.5 million expenditures: $310.3 million (2010 est.)`
Public debt: |  |
`58.8% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 38 58.7% of GDP (2009 est.)`
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |  |
`-2.2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 1 31.8% (2009 est.)`
Central bank discount rate: |  |
`NA% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 80 5.13% (31 December 2007)`
Commercial bank prime lending rate: |  |
`15.35% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 71 11.81% (31 December 2008 est.)`
Stock of narrow money: |  |
`$274.2 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 168 $240.5 million (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of broad money: |  |
`$415 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 176 $352 million (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of domestic credit: |  |
`$678.5 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 160 $582.5 million (31 December 2009 est.)`
Market value of publicly traded shares: |  |
`$NA`
Agriculture - products: |  |
`coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), copra, bananas; poultry; tuna`
Industries: |  |
`fishing, tourism, processing of coconuts and vanilla, coir (coconut fiber) rope, boat building, printing, furniture; beverages`
Industrial production growth rate: |  |
`2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 128`
Electricity - production: |  |
`250 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 173`
Electricity - consumption: |  |
`232.5 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 174`
Electricity - exports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Electricity - imports: |  |
`0 kWh (2008 est.)`
Oil - production: |  |
`0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 127`
Oil - consumption: |  |
`7,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 155`
Oil - exports: |  |
`0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 200`
Oil - imports: |  |
`7,653 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 146`
Oil - proved reserves: |  |
`0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 183`
Natural gas - production: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 179`
Natural gas - consumption: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 120`
Natural gas - exports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 169`
Natural gas - imports: |  |
`0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 115`
Natural gas - proved reserves: |  |
`0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 184`
Current account balance: |  |
`$-351 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 104 $-284.2 million (2009 est.)`
Exports: |  |
`$464 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 169 $432.5 million (2009 est.)`
Exports - commodities: |  |
`canned tuna, frozen fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (reexports)`
Exports - partners: |  |
`UK 24.84%, France 18.53%, Italy 9.45%, Mauritius 9.03%, Japan 6.98%, Spain 4.92% (2009)`
Imports: |  |
`$831 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 178 $759.1 million (2009 est.)`
Imports - commodities: |  |
`machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals, other manufactured goods`
Imports - partners: |  |
`Saudi Arabia 16.44%, India 8.33%, Spain 7.49%, South Africa 6.72%, France 6.39%, Brazil 6.07%, Singapore 5.07% (2009)`
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |  |
`$193 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 134 $190.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)`
Debt - external: |  |
`$1.374 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 145 $1.321 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Exchange rates: |  |
`Seychelles rupees (SCR) per US dollar - 12.221 (2010) 13.61 (2009) 8 (2008) 6.5 (2007) 5.5 (2006)`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`22,100 (2009) country comparison to the world: 189`
Telephones - mobile cellular: |  |
`92,300 (2009) country comparison to the world: 186`
Telephone system: |  |
`general assessment: effective system domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is 130 telephones per 100 persons; radiotelephone communications between islands in the archipelago international: country code - 248; direct radiotelephone communications with adjacent island countries and African coastal countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)`
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 via subscription; 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 hosts: |  |
`256 (2010) country comparison to the world: 187`
Internet users: |  |
`32,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 179`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`14 (2010) country comparison to the world: 149`
Airports - with paved runways: |  |
`total: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 1 (2010)`
Airports - with unpaved runways: |  |
`total: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 5 (2010)`
Roadways: |  |
`total: 458 km country comparison to the world: 195 paved: 440 km unpaved: 18 km (2003)`
Merchant marine: |  |
`total: 9 country comparison to the world: 119 by type: cargo 1, carrier 1, chemical tanker 6, petroleum tanker 1 foreign-owned: 3 (Hong Kong 1, Nigeria 1, South Africa 1) (2010)`
Ports and terminals: |  |
`Victoria`

Military

Military branches: |  |
`Seychelles Defense Force: Army, Coast Guard (includes Naval Wing, Air Wing), National Guard (2005)`
Military service age and obligation: |  |
`18 years of age for voluntary military service (younger with parental consent); no conscription (2010)`
Manpower available for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 26,257 females age 16-49: 23,996 (2010 est.)`
Manpower fit for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 20,231 females age 16-49: 19,891 (2010 est.)`
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |  |
`male: 686 female: 650 (2010 est.)`
Military expenditures: |  |
`2% of GDP (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 71`

Transnational Issues

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

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 26, 2011