Seychelles
Republic of Seychelles conventional short form: Seychelles
republicIndependence 29 June 1976 (from UK)
Seychelles as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 112 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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.
Geography
Eastern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar
18 fieldsClimate
- 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: 2% permanent crops: 13% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 11% other: 74% (1993 est.)
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
People
18 fieldsPer 1,000 population(2001 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 28.27% (male 11,367; female 11,167) 15-64 years: 65.47% (male 25,453; female 26,737) 65 years and over: 6.26% (male 1,673; female 3,318) (2001 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.5 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 70.69 years male: 65.17 years female: 76.37 years (2001 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 58% male: 56% female: 60% (1971 est.)
Government
Republic; President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977)
19 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
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
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977);
- note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977);
- note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
- election last held 20-22 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2003) election results: France Albert RENE reelected president;
- percent of vote - France Albert RENE (SPPF) 66.7%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (UO) 19.5%, Sir James MANCHAM (DP) 13.8%
Legislative branch
- unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (34 seats - 25 elected by popular vote, 9 allocated on a proportional basis to parties winning at least ten percent of the vote; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 20-22 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - SPPF 61.7%, UO 26.1%, DP 12.1%;
- seats by party - SPPF 30, UO 3, DP 1 note: the 9 awarded seats are apportioned according to the share of each party in the total vote
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];
- Seychelles National Party or SNP (formerly the United Opposition or UO) [Wavel RAMKALAWAN];
- Seychelles People's Progressive Front or SPPF [France Albert RENE] - the governing party
International organization participation
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Claude Sylvestre MOREL chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785
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
Economy
Since independence in 1976, per capita output in this Indian Ocean archipelago has expanded to roughly seven times the old near-subsistence level.
32 fieldsElectricity
Economy - overview
Since independence in 1976, per capita output in this Indian Ocean archipelago has expanded to roughly seven times the old near-subsistence level. 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 in order 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. 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. Other issues facing the government are the curbing of the budget deficit and further privatization of public enterprises. Growth slowed in 1998-2000, due to sluggish tourist and tuna sectors.
Tight controls on exchange rates and the scarcity of foreign exchange have hindered short-term economic prospects. The black market value of the Seychelles ruppee is half the official exchange rate; without a devaluation of the currency the tourist sector should remain sluggish as vacationers seek cheaper destinations such as Comoros, Mauritius, and Madagascar.
Budget
revenues: $249 million expenditures: $262 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
Industries
- fishing;
- tourism;
- processing of coconuts and vanilla, coir (coconut fiber) rope, boat building, printing, furniture;
- beverages
Agriculture - products
- coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), bananas;
- broiler chickens;
- tuna fish
Exchange rates
Seychelles rupees per US dollar - 6.0397 (November 2000), 5.6009 (2000), 5,3426 (1999), 5.2622 (1998), 5.0263 (1997), 4.9700 (1996)
Communications
10 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- effective system domestic: radiotelephone communications between islands in the archipelago international: direct radiotelephone communications with adjacent island countries and African coastal countries;
- satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Transportation
8 fieldsMerchant marine
total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 5,353 GRT/7,638 DWT ships by type: cargo 1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (2000 est.)
Military
Army, Coast Guard, air wing, National Guard, Presidential Protection Unit, Police Force
5 fieldsMilitary branches
Army, Coast Guard, air wing, National Guard, Presidential Protection Unit, Police Force
Transnational Issues
1 fieldDisputes - international
claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory)
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Seychelles.” The World Factbook 2001. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/seychelles/2001.