Seychelles

Republic of Seychelles

republicIndependence 29 June 1976 (from UK)

Seychelles as the 2002 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 111 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

Position4 35 S, 55 40 E

Area455 sq km

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

Populationas each edition published it

80,098 people July 2002 est. · 68,336 in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.47% 2002 est. · 0.88% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 26.9 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

70.97 years 2002 est. · 69.26 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.81 children per woman 2002 est. · 2.6 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

16.86 deaths per 1,000 live births 2002 est. · 15 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$7,600 2001 est. · $5,200 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

1.5% 2001 est. · -4.5% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

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

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Land useshare of 455 sq km

arable land 2.22%permanent crops 13.33%other 84.45% (1998 est.)

Area

455sq km

water: 0 sq kmland: 455 sq km2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

491km

land boundaries: 0 kmcontiguous zone: 24 NMterritorial sea: 12 NMexclusive economic zone: 200 NMcontinental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin

Highest point

905m

Morne Seychelloislowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

4 35 S, 55 40 E

Map references

Africa

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

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Natural hazards

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

Environment - current issues

water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater

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

Geography - note

40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands

People

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Population

80,098

(July 2002 est.)growth rate: 0.47% (2002 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2002 est.)

Birth

17.27Death

6.57Net migration

-5.99

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2002 est.)70.97

65.48 · 76.63

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1971 est.)58%

56% · 60%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Religions

Roman Catholic 86.6%Anglican 6.8%other Christian 2.5%other 4.1%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 27.8% (male 11,238; female 11,002)
15-64 years:: 66% (male 25,763; female 27,086)
65 years and over:: 6.2% (male 1,667; female 3,342) (2002 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 (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate

16.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.81 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS - deaths

Nationality

noun:: Seychellois (singular and plural)
adjective:: Seychellois

Ethnic groups

mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab

Languages

English (official), French (official), Creole

Government

Republic; President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977); President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977)

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Presidential electionpercent of vote

54.19%

France Albert RENE (SPPF) 54.19%Wavel RAMKALAWAN (UO) 44.95%Philippe BOULLE 0.86%election last held 31 August-2 September 2001 (next to be held NA 2006)

National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale, 34 seats, elected 4-6 December 2002one dot, one seat

SPPF 23SNP 11

Percent of vote

SPPF 54.3%SNP 42.6%DP 3.1%

Country name

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

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

Independence

29 June 1976 (from UK)

National holiday

Constitution Day (National Day), 18 June (1993)

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:: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
elections:: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 31 August-2 September 2001 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results:: France Albert RENE reelected president;
percent of vote - France Albert RENE (SPPF) 54.19%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (UO) 44.95%, Philippe BOULLE 0.86%;
note - the first time that presidential elections have been held separately from legislative elections
cabinet:: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
head of government:: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

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 10% of the vote; members serve five-year terms)

elections:: last held 4-6 December 2002 (next held by 2007)
election results:: percent of vote by party - SPPF 54.3%, SNP 42.6%, DP 3.1%; seats by party - SPPF 23, SNP 11

note: the 9 awarded seats are apportioned according to the percentage that each party won of 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

Political pressure groups and leaders

Roman Catholic Church; trade unions

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), 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
FAX:: [1] (212) 972-1786
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 the 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.

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Real growth rate

1.5%

(2001 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

6.1%

(2001 est.)

Labor force

30,900

(1996) (1996)

Debt - external

$240million

(1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(1999)

agriculture 3%industry 26%services 71% (1999) (1999)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

48.1%

8.0%

23.1%

Italy

13.3%

14.8%

France

9.9%

South Africa

10.7%

Singapore

7.7%

2.7%

Netherlands

Exports $182.6 million f.o.b. (2001)Imports $360.2 million f.o.b. (2001)(1999)

Budget

Revenues

$249 millionExpenditures

$262 million (1998 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

Electricity

fossil fuel 100%hydro 0% · other 0% · nuclear 0%

Electricity production

160 million (2000)Electricity consumption

148.8 million (2000)

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 and once again following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the US. Other issues facing the government are the curbing of the budget deficit, including the containment of social welfare costs, and further privatization of public enterprises.

Growth slowed in 1998-2001, due to sluggish tourist and tuna sectors. Also, tight controls on exchange rates and the scarcity of foreign exchange have impaired short-term economic prospects. The black market value of the Seychelles rupee 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.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $605 million (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $7,600 (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Labor force - by occupation

industry 19%, services 71%, agriculture 10% (1989) (1989)

Unemployment rate

NA%

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

Exports

$182.6 million f.o.b. (2001)

Exports - commodities

canned tuna, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (reexports)

Imports

$360.2 million f.o.b. (2001)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals

Economic aid - recipient

$16.4 million (1995) (1995)

Currency

Seychelles rupee (SCR)

Currency code

SCR

Exchange rates

Seychelles rupees per US dollar - 5.7458 (January 2002), 5.8575 (2001), 5.7138 (2000), 5.3426 (1999), 5.2622 (1998), 5.0263 (1997)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

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Mobile cellular

16,316

(1999)

Internet users

(2000)

Fixed lines

19,635

(1997) · country code .sc

Telephone 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)