Introduction :: SEYCHELLES
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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 and again in December 2015.
Geography :: SEYCHELLES
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archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar
4 35 S, 55 40 E
Africa
total: 455 sq km
land: 455 sq km
water: 0 sq km
country comparison to the world: 199
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
0 km
491 km
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
tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May)
Mahe Group is volcanic with a narrow coastal strip and rocky, hilly interior; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs
mean elevation: NA
elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morne Seychellois 905 m
fish, coconuts (copra), cinnamon trees
agricultural land: 6.5%
arable land 2.2%; permanent crops 4.3%; permanent pasture 0%
forest: 88.5%
other: 5% (2011 est.)
3 sq km (2012)
lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; occasional short droughts
water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater
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
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
People and Society :: SEYCHELLES
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93,186 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
noun: Seychellois (singular and plural)
adjective: Seychellois
mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab
Seychellois Creole (official) 89.1%, English (official) 5.1%, French (official) 0.7%, other 3.8%, unspecified 1.4% (2010 est.)
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.)
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.
0-14 years: 20.19% (male 9,650/female 9,164)
15-24 years: 13.58% (male 6,641/female 6,016)
25-54 years: 49.36% (male 24,335/female 21,660)
55-64 years: 9.36% (male 4,483/female 4,235)
65 years and over: 7.51% (male 2,763/female 4,239) (2016 est.)
population pyramid:
Africa
::SEYCHELLES
Population Pyramid
A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
total dependency ratio: 43.5%
youth dependency ratio: 33.6%
elderly dependency ratio: 9.9%
potential support ratio: 10.1% (2015 est.)
total: 34.9 years
male: 34.4 years
female: 35.5 years (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
0.8% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
13.9 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
6.9 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
urban population: 53.9% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 1.14% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
VICTORIA (capital) 26,000 (2014)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
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: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
total: 10.2 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 12.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
total population: 74.7 years
male: 70.2 years
female: 79.4 years (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
1.86 children born/woman (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
3.4% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 147
1.07 physicians/1,000 population (2012)
3.6 beds/1,000 population (2011)
improved:
urban: 95.7% of population
rural: 95.7% of population
total: 95.7% of population
unimproved:
urban: 4.3% of population
rural: 4.3% of population
total: 4.3% of population (2015 est.)
improved:
urban: 98.4% of population
rural: 98.4% of population
total: 98.4% of population
unimproved:
urban: 1.6% of population
rural: 1.6% of population
total: 1.6% of population (2015 est.)
NA
NA
NA
26.9% (2014)
country comparison to the world: 70
3.6% (2012)
3.6% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 121
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.8%
male: 91.4%
female: 92.3% (2012 est.)
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 15 years (2014)
total: 11%
male: 8.4%
female: 14.2% (2011 est.)
Government :: SEYCHELLES
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conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles
conventional short form: Seychelles
local long form: Republic of Seychelles
local short form: Seychelles
etymology: named by French Captain Corneille Nicholas MORPHEY after Jean Moreau de SECHELLES, the finance minister of France, in 1756
presidential republic
name: Victoria
geographic coordinates: 4 37 S, 55 27 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
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
29 June 1976 (from the UK)
Constitution Day, 18 June (1993); Independence Day (National Day), 29 June (1976)
previous 1970, 1979; latest drafted May 1993, approved by referendum 18 June 1993, effective 23 June 1993; amended several times, last in 2011 (2016)
mixed legal system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: President Danny FAURE (PL) (since 16 October 2016); Vice President Vincent MERITON (since 28 October 2016); note - James Alix MICHEL resigned the presidency effective 16 October 2016; the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Danny FAURE (PL) (since 16 October 2016); Vice President Vincent MERITON (since 28 October 2016); note - James Alix MICHEL resigned the presidency effective 16 October 2016
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
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 2015 with runoff on 16-18 December 2015 (next expected in December 2020)
election results: President James Alix MICHEL reelected president; percent of vote in second round - James Alix MICHEL (PP) 50.2%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (SNP) 49.8%
description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (up to 35 seats - the Assembly elected in September 2016 has 33 members; 25 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and up to 10 members elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)
elections: last held on 8-10 September 2016 (next to be held in 2021); note - the National Assembly was dissolved in July 2011 resulting in early elections
election results: percent of vote by party - LDS 49.6%, PL 49.2%, other 1.2%; seats by party - LDS 19, PL 14
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
People's Party (Parti Lepep) or PL [James Alix MICHEL] (formerly SPPF)
Popular Democratic Movement or PDM [Francesca MONNAIE]
Seychelles National Party or SNP [Wavel RAMKALAWAN] (formerly the United Opposition or UO)
Seychelles Party for Social Justice and Democracy or SPSD
Seychellois Democratic Alliance (Linyon Demokratik Seselwa) or LDS [Roger MANCIENNE] (alliance consisting of SNP, Seychelloise Alliance, SPSD, and SUP)
Seychelloise Alliance (Lalyans Seselwa) [Patrick PILLAY]
Seselwa (Seychelles) United Party or SUP [Robert ERNESTA] (formerly the New Democratic Party or NDP)
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)
chief of mission: Ambassador Marie-Louise POTTER (since 19 September 2012)
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785
FAX: [1] (212) 972-1786
consulate(s) general: New York
the US does not have an embassy in Seychelles; the US Ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Seychelles
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
coco de mer (sea coconut); national colors: blue, yellow, red, white, green
name: "Koste Seselwa" (Seychellois Unite)
lyrics/music: David Francois Marc ANDRE and George Charles Robert PAYET
note: adopted 1996
Economy :: SEYCHELLES
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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 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. Seychelles grew at 4.3% in 2015 because of a strong tourist sector and expanding private sector credits; its fiscal surplus reached 4% of GDP.
$2.608 billion (2016 est.)
$2.487 billion (2015 est.)
$2.352 billion (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
country comparison to the world: 190
$1.419 billion (2015 est.)
4.9% (2016 est.)
5.7% (2015 est.)
6.2% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
$28,000 (2016 est.)
$27,000 (2015 est.)
$25,800 (2014 est.)
note: data are in 2016 dollars
country comparison to the world: 67
13.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
15.2% of GDP (2015 est.)
14.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
household consumption: 53.9%
government consumption: 25.2%
investment in fixed capital: 39.5%
investment in inventories: 0%
exports of goods and services: 63.4%
imports of goods and services: -82% (2016 est.)
agriculture: 2.6%
industry: 13.9%
services: 83.5% (2016 est.)
coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (manioc, tapioca), copra, bananas; tuna
fishing, tourism, beverages
2.7% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
39,560 (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
agriculture: 3%
industry: 23%
services: 74% (2006)
3% (2014 est.)
3.3% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
NA%
lowest 10%: 4.7%
highest 10%: 15.4% (2007)
revenues: $487.3 million
expenditures: $457.3 million (2016 est.)
34.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
2.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
59.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
63.2% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
calendar year
-0.5% (2016 est.)
4% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
11.17% (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 19
12.5% (31 December 2016 est.)
12.36% (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
$546.4 million (31 December 2016 est.)
$492.7 million (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
$613.8 million (31 December 2016 est.)
$564.6 million (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
$515.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)
$491.6 million (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
$NA
-$265 million (2016 est.)
-$253 million (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
$422.3 million (2016 est.)
$449.4 million (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
canned tuna, frozen fish, petroleum products (reexports)
France 18.2%, UK 17.9%, Mauritius 10%, Japan 9.2%, Italy 7.8%, Spain 4.5% (2015)
$873.7 million (2016 est.)
$922.4 million (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals, other manufactured goods
Saudi Arabia 22.5%, Spain 11.1%, Singapore 7.4%, China 4.5%, South Africa 4.1%, France 4% (2015)
$590.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)
$536.2 million (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
$2.552 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$2.758 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Seychelles rupees (SCR) per US dollar -
13.34 (2016 est.)
13.314 (2015 est.)
13.314 (2014 est.)
12.747 (2013 est.)
13.7 (2012 est.)
Energy :: SEYCHELLES
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400 million kWh (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
300 million kWh (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
0 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
0 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
100,000 kW (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
0 bbl (1 January 2016 es)
country comparison to the world: 130
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
6,500 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
5,956 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)
country comparison to the world: 129
1.4 million Mt (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Communications :: SEYCHELLES
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total subscriptions: 21,341
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
total: 148,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 160 (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
general assessment: effective system
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 180 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) (2015)
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 through 2 providers; the government operates 1 AM and 1 FM radio (2016)
.sc
total: 54,000
percent of population: 58.1% (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Transportation :: SEYCHELLES
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number of registered air carriers: 1
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 3
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 497,496
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 19,234,992 mt-km (2015)
S7 (2016)
14 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 150
total: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 1 (2013)
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 5 (2013)
1 (2013)
total: 526 km
paved: 514 km
unpaved: 12 km (2015)
country comparison to the world: 196
total: 9
by type: cargo 1, carrier 1, chemical tanker 6, petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 3 (Hong Kong 1, Nigeria 1, South Africa 1) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 117
major seaport(s): Victoria
Military and Security :: SEYCHELLES
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Seychelles People's Defense Forces (SPDF): Army (includes infantry, Special Forces (Tazar)), Coast Guard (includes Naval Wing, Air Wing) (2015)
18 years of age for voluntary military service (younger with parental consent); no conscription (2012)
0.89% of GDP (2012)
0.82% of GDP (2011)
0.89% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 109
Transnational Issues :: SEYCHELLES
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Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islands (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory)
