Seychelles

Republic of Seychelles

republicIndependence 29 June 1976 (from UK)

Seychelles as the 2007 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 119 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, UTC+4

Position4 35 S, 55 40 E

Area455 sq km

Locationarchipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar

Populationas each edition published it

81,895 people July 2007 est. · 68,336 in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.432% 2007 est. · 0.88% in 1993

Median ageyears

28.4 years 2007 est. · 26.9 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

72.34 years 2007 est. · 69.26 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.74 children per woman 2007 est. · 2.6 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

14.75 deaths per 1,000 live births 2007 est. · 15 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$7,800 2002 est. · $5,200 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

-1% 2006 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. President France-Albert RENE, who had served since 1977, was re-elected in 2001, but stepped down in 2004. Vice President James MICHEL took over the presidency and in July 2006 was elected to a new five-year term.

Geography

Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar

18 fields

Land useshare of 455 sq km

arable land 2.17%permanent crops 13.04%other 84.79% (2005)

Area

455sq km

land: 455 sq kmwater: 0 sq km2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

491km

land boundaries: 0 kmterritorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 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

archipelago 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

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note

41 granitic and about 75 coralline islands

People

19 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2007 est.)

1,590

65 and over6.1%

3,418

27,405

15-6468.5%

28,706

10,504

0-1425.4%

10,272

MaleFemale

Population

81,895

(July 2007 est.)growth rate: 0.432% (2007 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2007 est.)

Birth

15.83Death

6.25Net migration

-5.25

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2007 est.)72.34

66.98 · 77.86Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)14.75

18.67 · 10.71

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (2002 census)91.8%

91.4% · 92.3%Median age years (2007 est.)28.4

27.3 · 29.4

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Religions(2002 census)

Roman Catholic 82.3%Anglican 6.4%Seventh Day Adventist 1.1%other Christian 3.4%Hindu 2.1%Muslim 1.1%other non-Christian 1.5%unspecified 1.5%none 0.6% (2002 census)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.023 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.955 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.465 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.932 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.74 children born/woman (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

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

Creole 91.8%, English 4.9% (official), other 3.1%, unspecified 0.2% (2002 census)

Government

Republic; President James Alix MICHEL (since 14 April 2004); President James MICHEL (since 14 April 2004)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

53.73%

James MICHEL 53.73%Wavel RAMKALAWAN 45.71%Philippe BOULLE 0.56%election last held 28-30 July 2006 (next to be held in 2011)

National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale, 34 seats, elected 10-12 May 2007one dot, one seat

SPPF 23SNP 11

Percent of vote

SPPF 56.2%SNP 43.8%

Country name

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

Government type

republic

Capital

name:: Victoria
geographic coordinates:: 4 38 S, 55 27 E
time difference:: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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 James Alix MICHEL (since 14 April 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:: President James MICHEL (since 14 April 2004)
cabinet:: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections:: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for two more terms); election last held 28-30 July 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results:: President James MICHEL elected president;
percent of vote - James MICHEL 53.73%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN 45.71%, Philippe BOULLE 0.56%;
note - this was the first election in which President James MICHEL participated;
he was originally sworn in as president after former president France Albert RENE stepped down in April 2004

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (34 seats; 25 members elected by popular vote, 9 allocated on a proportional basis to parties winning at least 10% of the vote; to serve five-year terms)

elections:: last held 10-12 May 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results:: percent of vote by party - SPPF 56.2%, SNP 43.8%; seats by party - SPPF 23, SNP 11

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, Paul CHOW];
Seychelles National Party or SNP [Wavel RAMKALAWAN] (formerly the United Opposition or UO);
Seychelles People's Progressive Front or SPPF [France Albert RENE, James MICHEL] (the governing party)

Political pressure groups and leaders

Roman Catholic Church; trade unions

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Jean Ronald JUMEAU
chancery:: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York, NY 10017
telephone:: [1] (212) 972-1785
FAX:: [1] (212) 972-1786

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.

43 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

$626million

(2002 est.)official exchange rate: $712 million (2006 est.)

GDP per capita, PPP

$7,800

(2002 est.)

Real growth rate

-1%

(2006 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

-0.4%

(2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2006 est.)

agriculture 2.5%industry 26.3%services 71.2% (2006 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

25.5%

Saudi Arabia

17.7%

17.5%

France

7.6%

11.9%

Italy

4.8%

South Africa

9.7%

8.5%

Mauritius

8.3%

Japan

8.1%

Spain

8.1%

Singapore

7.2%

4.3%

Netherlands

Exports $423 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)Imports $706 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)(2006)

Budget

Revenues

$439.7 millionExpenditures

$408.5 million (2006 est.)

Electricity

Electricity production

208 million (2005)Electricity consumption

193.4 million (2005)

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 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. Sharp drops illustrated the vulnerability of the tourist sector in 1991-92 due largely to the Gulf War and once again following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the US. Growth slowed in 1998-2002 and fell in 2003, due to sluggish tourist and tuna sectors, but resumed in 2004.

Growth turned negative again in 2005-06. 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 may remain sluggish as vacationers seek cheaper destinations such as Comoros, Mauritius, and Madagascar.

Labor force

30,900 (1996)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Unemployment rate

NA%

Population below poverty line

NA%

Investment (gross fixed)

9.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Public debt

134.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), bananas;
poultry;
tuna

Industries

fishing, tourism, processing of coconuts and vanilla, coir (coconut fiber) rope, boat building, printing, furniture; beverages

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption

5,600 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2006)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Current account balance

$-167 million (2006 est.)

Exports

$423 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

$706 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals

Economic aid - recipient

$18.81 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$112.9 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$847 million (2006 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Currency (code)

Seychelles rupee (SCR)

Exchange rates

Seychelles rupees per US dollar - 5.5 (2006), 5.5 (2005), 5.5 (2004), 5.4007 (2003), 5.48 (2002)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

70,300

(2006)

Internet users

187

(2007)

Fixed lines

20,700

(2006) · country code .sc

Telephone system

general assessment:: effective system
domestic:: radiotelephone communications between islands in the archipelago
international:: country code - 248;
direct radiotelephone communications with adjacent island countries and African coastal countries;
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)