Seychelles

Republic of Seychelles

republicIndependence 29 June 1976 (from UK)

Seychelles as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 79 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 sq km

LocationEastern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean,

Populationas each edition published it

72,709 people July 1995 est. · 68,336 in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.81% 1995 est. · 0.88% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 26.9 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

70.08 years 1995 est. · 69.26 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.16 children per woman 1995 est. · 2.6 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

11.4 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 15 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$6,000 1993 est. · $5,200 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

-2% 1993 est. · -4.5% in 1993

Geography

Eastern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, | northeast of Madagascar

14 fields

Area

455sq km

land area: 455 sq kmcomparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

491km

land boundaries: 0 kmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental marginexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Location

Eastern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar

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

Land use

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

Environment

current issues:: no natural fresh water resources, 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, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling;
signed, but not ratified - Desertification

Note

40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands

People

15 fields

Population

72,709

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 0.81% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

21.35Death

6.7Net migration

-6.6

Male · female(1995 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years70.08

66.54 · 73.73

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)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 32% (female 11,630; male 11,811)
15-64 years:: 62% (female 23,229; male 21,679)
65 years and over:: 6% (female 2,875; male 1,485) (July 1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate

11.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 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

Presidential electionpercent of vote

59.5%

President France Albert RENE (SPPF) reelected with of the vote 59.5%Sir James MANCHAM (DP) 36.72%

Names

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

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

Legal system

based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law

Suffrage

17 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state and head of government:: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977);
election last held 20-23 July 1993 (next to be held NA);
results - President France Albert RENE (SPPF) reelected with 59.5% of the vote, Sir James MANCHAM (DP) 36.72%
cabinet:: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president

Legislative branch

unicameral

People's Assembly (Assemblee du Peuple):: elections last held 20-23 July 1993 (next to be held NA);
results - SPPF 82%, DP 15%, UO 3%;
seats - (33 total, 22 elected, 11 awarded) seats elected - SPPF 21, DP 1;
seats awarded - SPPF 6, DP 4, UO 1;
total seats by party - SPPF 27, DP 5, UO 1

note: the 11 awarded seats are apportioned according to the share of each party in the total vote

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), Annette GEORGES - 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, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Marc R. MARENGO
chancery:: (temporary) 820 Second Avenue, Suite 900F, New York, NY 10017
telephone:: [1] (212) 687-9766, 9767

FAX

[1] (212) 922-9177

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Carl Burton STOKES
embassy:: 4th Floor, Victoria House, Box 251, Victoria, Mahe
mailing address:: Box 148, Unit 62501, Victoria, Seychelles; APO AE 09815-2501
telephone:: [248] 225256

FAX

[248] 225189

Flag

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

Economy

18 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$6,000

(1993 est.)

Real growth rate

-2%

(1993 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 4% (1992); accounts for 12% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

3.9%

(1993 est.)

Unemployment rate

(1987)

Budget

Revenues

$227.4 millionExpenditures

$263 million (1993 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $54 million

Installed generating capacity, 30,000 kW

Electricity production

110 millionElectricity consumption per capita

1,399 (1993)

Overview

Since independence in 1976, per capita output has grown to roughly seven times the old near-subsistence level, led by the tourist sector, which 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. The vulnerability of the tourist sector was illustrated by the sharp drop in 1991-92 due largely to the Gulf war. Although the industry has rebounded, the government recognizes the continuing need for upgrading the sector in the face of stiff international competition.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $430 million (1993 est.)

Exports

$50 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

commodities:: fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (re-exports)
partners:: France 43%, UK 22%, Reunion 11%, (1992)

Imports

$261 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

commodities:: manufactured goods, food, petroleum products, tobacco, beverages, machinery and transportation equipment
partners:: Singapore 16%, Bahrain 16%, South Africa, 14%, UK 13% (1992)

External debt

$181 million (1993 est.)

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

Economic aid

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