Seychelles

republicIndependence 29 June 1976 (from UK)

Seychelles as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 115 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
LocationEastern Africa in the western Indian Ocean northeast of Madagascar
1994

Every edition of Seychelles

Populationas each edition published it
72,113 people July 1994 est. · 68,336 in 1990
Population growth% a year
0.84% 1994 est. · 0.88% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 26.9 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
Not in this edition 69.26 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
2.23 children per woman 1994 est. · 2.6 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
11.7 deaths per 1,000 live births 1994 est. · 15 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$5,900 1992 est. · $5,200 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
4% 1992 est. · -4.5% in 1993

Geography

Eastern Africa in the western Indian Ocean northeast of Madagascar

24 fields
Coastline
491km
land boundaries: 0 km

Location

Eastern Africa in the western Indian Ocean northeast of Madagascar

Map references

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

total area

455 sq km

land area

455 sq km

comparative area

slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

continental shelf

200 nm or the edge of continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

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

arable land

4%

permanent crops

18%

meadows and pastures

0%

forest and woodland

18%

other

60%

current issues

no fresh water, catchments collect rain water

natural hazards

lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; short droughts possible

international agreements

party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling

Note

40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands

People

22 fields
Population
72,113
(July 1994 est.)growth rate: 0.84% (1994 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1994 est.)

Birth
21.88Death
6.93Net migration
-6.52

Religions

Roman Catholic 90%Anglican 8%other 2%
Labor force
27,700
(1985)
Literacy
15and over can read and write
age · (1971)

Infant mortality rate

11.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

total population

69.67 years

male

66.05 years

female

73.39 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.23 children born/woman (1994 est.)

noun

Seychellois (singular and plural)

adjective

Seychelles

Ethnic divisions

Seychellois (mixture of Asians, Africans, Europeans)

Languages

English (official), French (official), Creole

total population

58%

male

56%

female

60%

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)

Government

Republic

29 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

82%
SPPF 82%DP 15%UO 3%

Legislature, 22 seatsone dot, one seat

(33 total, 22 elected) SPPF 22

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)

National holiday

National Day, 18 June (1993) ( adoption of new constitution)

Constitution

18 June 1993

Suffrage

17 years of age; universal

chief of state and head of government

  • President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977);
  • election last held 20- 23 July 1993;
  • results - President France Albert RENE reelected by 59.5% of votes, MANCHAM (PS party) 36.72%

cabinet

Council of Ministers; appointed by the president

People's Assembly (Assemblee du Peuple)

  • elections last held 20-23 July 1993;
  • results - SPPF 82%, DP 15%, UO 3%;
  • seats - (33 total, 22 elected) SPPF 22

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal, Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

  • ruling party - Seychelles People's Progressive Front (SPPF), France Albert RENE;
  • Democratic Party (DP), Sir James MANCHAM;
  • United Opposition (UO) is a coalition of the following parties: 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

Member of

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Marc Michael Rogers MARENGO

chancery

(temporary) 820 Second Avenue, Suite 900F, New York, NY 10017

telephone

(212) 687-9766 or 9767

FAX

(212) 922-9177

chief of mission

Ambassador Matthew F. MATTINGLY

embassy

4th Floor, Victoria House, Box 251, Victoria, Mahe

mailing address

Box 148, Unit 62501, Victoria, Seychelles; 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.

25 fields
GDP per capita, PPP
$5,900
(1992 est.)
Real growth rate
4%
(1992 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 1.3% (1991); accounts for 12% of GDP

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 - $407 million (1992 est.)

revenues

$172 million

expenditures

$181 million, including capital expenditures of $48 million (1991 est.)

Exports

$47 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)

commodities

fish, copra, cinnamon bark, petroleum products (re-exports)

partners

UK 54% France 23%, Reunion 14%, (1991)

Imports

$192 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)

commodities

manufactured goods, food, petroleum products, tobacco, beverages, machinery and transportation equipment

partners

South Africa 13%, Singapore 12%, UK 12% (1991)

External debt

$201 million (1992 est.)

capacity

30,000 kW

production

80 million kWh

consumption per capita

1,160 kWh (1991)

Industries

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

Agriculture

  • accounts for 5% 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

recipient

  • 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 - 5.2681 (January 1994), 5.1815 (1993), 5.1220 (1992), 5.2893 (1991), 5.3369 (1990), 5.6457 (1989)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

12 fields

total

260 km

paved

160 km

unpaved

crushed stone, earth 100 km

Ports

Victoria

Merchant marine

1 refrigerated cargo (over 1,000 GRT) totaling 1,827 GRT/2,170 DWT

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

0

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 19,399; fit for military service 9,900

Defense expenditures

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

Central Intelligence Agency. “Seychelles.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/seychelles/1994.

How to cite ← 1993 edition 1995 edition →