Seychelles

Republic of Seychelles

republicIndependence 29 June 1976 (from UK)

Seychelles as the 1993 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 74 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalVictoria
Area455 km2
Locationin the western Indian Ocean northeast of Madagascar
1993

Every edition of Seychelles

Populationas each edition published it
71,494 people July 1993 est. · 68,336 in 1990
Population growth% a year
0.88% 1993 est. · 0.53% in 2025
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 26.9 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
69.26 years 1993 est. · 76.6 yrs in 2025
Fertility ratechildren per woman
2.3 children per woman 1993 est. · 2.6 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
12.1 deaths per 1,000 live births 1993 est. · 15 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$5,200 1991 est. · $29,200 in 2025
GDP real growth% a year
-4.5% 1991 est. · 3.5% in 2025

Geography

In the western Indian Ocean northeast of Madagascar

13 fields
Area
455km2
land area: 455 km2comparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Coastline
491km
land boundaries: 0 kmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or the edge of continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Location

in the western Indian Ocean northeast of Madagascar

Map references

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

International disputes

claims Tromelin Island

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

Natural resources

fish, copra, cinnamon trees

Land use

arable land:
4%
permanent crops:
18%
meadows and pastures:
0%
forest and woodland:
18%
other:
60%

Environment

  • lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare;
  • short droughts possible;
  • no fresh water - catchments collect rain;
  • 40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands

People

14 fields
Population
71,494
(July 1993 est.)growth rate: 0.88% (1993 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1993 est.)

Birth
22.35Death
7.12Net migration
-6.43

Male · female(1993 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years69.26
65.56 · 73.07
TotalMale · femaleLiteracy58%
56% · 60%
MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1971)

Religions

Roman Catholic 90%Anglican 8%other 2%
Labor force
27,700
(1985)by occupation: industry and commerce 31%, services 21%, government 20%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 12%, other 16% (1985)note: 57% of population of working age (1983)

Infant mortality rate

12.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.3 children born/woman (1993 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Seychellois (singular and plural)
adjective:
Seychelles

Ethnic divisions

Seychellois (mixture of Asians, Africans, Europeans)

Languages

English (official), French (official), Creole

Government

Republic

21 fields

Names

conventional long form:
Republic of Seychelles
conventional short form:
Seychelles

Type

republic

Capital

Victoria

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 Island), Grand' Anse (on Praslin Island), La Digue, La Riviere Anglaise, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe Larue, Port Glaud, Saint Louis, Takamaka

Independence

29 June 1976 (from UK)

Constitution

5 June 1979 note: new constitution now being drafted by multiparty conference, to take effect in mid-1993

National holiday

Liberation Day, 5 June (1977) (anniversary of coup)

Political parties and leaders

  • ruling party - Seychelles People's Progressive Front (SPPF), France Albert RENE;
  • Democratic Party (DP), Sir James MANCHAM;
  • Seychelles Party (PS), Wavel RAMKALAWAN;
  • Seychelles Democratic Movement (MSPD), Jacques HONDOUL;
  • Seychelles Liberal Party (SLP), Ogilvie BERLOUIS

Other political or pressure groups

trade unions; Roman Catholic Church

Suffrage

17 years of age; universal

Elections

note: presidential and legislative elections are scheduled to be held once the new, multiparty consititution is ratified later this year

President:
last held 9-11 June 1989 (next to be held NA 1993); results - President France Albert RENE reelected without opposition
People's Assembly:
  • last held 5 December 1987 (next to be held mid-1993);
  • results - SPPF was the only legal party;
  • seats - (25 total, 23 elected) SPPF 23

Executive branch

president, Council of Ministers

Legislative branch

unicameral People's Assembly (Assemblee du Peuple)

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal, Supreme Court

Leaders

Chief of State and Head of Government: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977)

Member of

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:
Second Secretary, Charge d'Affaires ad interim Marc R. MARENGO
chancery:
(temporary) 820 Second Avenue, Suite 900F, New York, NY 10017
telephone:
(212) 687-9766

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:
Ambassador Matthew F. MATTINGLY
embassy:
4th Floor, Victoria House, Victoria
mailing address:
Victoria House, Box 251, Victoria, Mahe, or Box 148, Unit 62501, APO AE 09815-2501
telephone:
(248) 25256
FAX:
(248) 25189

Flag

three horizontal bands of red (top), white (wavy), and green; the white band is the thinnest, the red band is the thickest

Economy

In this small, open, tropical island economy, the tourist industry employs | about 30% of the labor force and provides more than 70% of hard currency | earnings.

18 fields
GDP per capita, PPP
$5,200
(1991 est.)
Real growth rate
-4.5%
(1991 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 7% (1987); accounts for 10% of GDP

Budget

Revenues
$180 millionExpenditures
$202 million
expenditures, including capital expenditures of $32 million (1989)

Overview

In this small, open, tropical island economy, the tourist industry employs about 30% of the labor force and provides more than 70% of hard currency earnings. In recent years the government has encouraged foreign investment in order to upgrade hotels and other services. At the same time, the government has moved to reduce the high dependence on tourism by promoting the development of farming, fishing, and small-scale manufacturing.

National product

GDP - exchange rate conversion - $350 million (1991 est.)

Exports

$40 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)

commodities:
fish, copra, cinnamon bark, petroleum products (reexports)
partners:
France 63%, Pakistan 12%, Reunion 10%, UK 7% (1987)

Imports

$186 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)

commodities:
manufactured goods, food, tobacco, beverages, machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products
partners:
UK 20%, France 14%, South Africa 13%, Yemen 13%, Singapore 8%, Japan 6% (1987)

External debt

$189 million (1991 est.)

Electricity

30,000 kW capacity; 80 million kWh produced, 1,160 kWh per capita (1991)

Industries

tourism, processing of coconut and vanilla, fishing, coir rope factory, boat building, printing, furniture, beverage

Agriculture

  • accounts for 7% of GDP, mostly subsistence farming;
  • cash crops - coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla;
  • other products - sweet potatoes, cassava, bananas;
  • broiler chickens;
  • large share of food needs imported;
  • expansion of tuna fishing under way

Economic aid

  • US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY78-89), $26 million;
  • Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1978-89), $315 million;
  • OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $5 million;
  • Communist countries (1970-89), $60 million

Currency

1 Seychelles rupee (SRe) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

Seychelles rupees (SRe) per US$1 - 5.2545 (January 1993), 5.1220 (1992), 5.2893 (1991), 5.3369 (1990), 5.6457 (1989), 5.3836 (1988)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

5 fields

Highways

260 km total; 160 km paved, 100 km crushed stone or earth

Ports

Victoria

Merchant marine

1 refrigerated cargo totaling 1,827 GRT/2,170 DWT

Airports

total:
14
usable:
14
with permanent-surface runways:
8
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
1

Telecommunications

  • direct radio communications with adjacent islands and African coastal countries;
  • 13,000 telephones;
  • broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, 2 TV;
  • 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station;
  • USAF tracking station

Defense Forces

Army, National Guard, Marines, Coast Guard, Presidential Protection Unit, | Police Force

3 fields

Branches

Army, National Guard, Marines, Coast Guard, Presidential Protection Unit, Police Force

Manpower availability

males age 15-49 18,982; fit for military service 9,710 (1993 est.)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $12 million, 4% of GDP (1990 est.)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Seychelles.” The World Factbook 1993. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/seychelles/1993.

How to cite ← 1992 edition 1994 edition →