Seychelles
Republic of Seychelles
republicIndependence 29 June 1976 (from the UK)
Seychelles as the 2011 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 138 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. 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 fieldsLand useshare of 455 sq km
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
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
People and Society
28 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2011 est.)
Per 1,000 population
Male · female
Religions(2002 census)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.031 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 1.09 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.6 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 1.03 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Government
Republic; President James Alix MICHEL (since 14 April 2004); President James Alix MICHEL (since 14 April 2004)
20 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale, 34 seats, elected 29 September - 1 October 2011one dot, one seat
Percent of vote
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Republic of Seychelles
- conventional short form:
- Seychelles
- local long form:
- Republic of Seychelles
- local short form:
- Seychelles
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
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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 Alix MICHEL (since 14 April 2004)
- cabinet:
- Council of Ministers appointed by the president; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)
- elections:
- president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for two more terms); election last held on 19-21 May 2011 (next to be held in 2016)
- election results:
- President James MICHEL elected president;
- percent of vote - James MICHEL 55.5%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN 41.4%, Philippe BOULLE 1.7%, Ralph VOLCERE 1.5%;
- note - this was the second 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; members to serve five-year terms)
- elections:
- last held on 29 September - 1 October 2011 (next to be held in 2016); note - the National Assembly was dissolved in July 2011 resulting in early elections
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - PL 88.6%, PDM 10.9%, independents 0.6%;
- seats by party - PL 31, vacant - 3;
- note - the ruling SPPF changed its name to People's Party (Party Lepep) in June 2009;
- the SNP and NDP boycotted the 2011 elections
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];
- New Democratic Party or NDP;
- People's Party (Parti Lepep) or PL [France Albert RENE];
- Popular Democratic Movement or PDM;
- Seychelles National Party or SNP [Wavel RAMKALAWAN] (formerly the United Opposition or UO)
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, SADC, 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;
- the oblique bands are meant to symbolize a dynamic new country moving into the future;
- blue represents sky and sea, yellow the sun giving light and life, red the peoples' determination to work for the future in unity and love, white social justice and harmony, green the land and natural environment
National anthem
- name:
- "Koste Seselwa" (Seychellois Unite)
- lyrics/music:
- David Francois Marc ANDRE and George Charles Robert PAYET
note: adopted 1996
Economy
51 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2010 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
Economy - overview
Since independence in 1976, per capita output in this Indian Ocean archipelago has expanded to roughly seven times the pre-independence, near-subsistence level, moving the island into the upper-middle income group of countries. 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. GDP grew about 7-8% per year in 2006-07, driven by tourism and a boom in tourism-related construction.
The Seychelles rupee was allowed to depreciate in 2006 after being overvalued for years and fell by 10% in the first 9 months of 2007. Despite these actions, the Seychelles economy has struggled to maintain its gains and in 2008 suffered from food and oil price shocks, a foreign exchange shortage, high inflation, large financing gaps, and the global recession.
In July 2008 the government defaulted on a Euro amortizing note worth roughly US$80 million, leading to a downgrading of Seychelles credit rating, but in October 2010 the EU approved a $2.9 million grant as part of a larger four-year program for Seychelles. In response to Seychelles successful implementation of tighter monetary and fiscal policies, the IMF upgraded Seychelles to a three-year extended fund facility (EFF) of $31 million in December 2009.
In 2008, GDP fell more than 1% due to declining tourism, but the economy recovered in 2009-10 with a notable increase in tourist numbers for 2010.
Commercial bank prime lending rate
12.703% (31 December 2010 est.) · 15.347% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 46
Stock of narrow money
$319.9 million (31 December 2010 est.) · $290.9 million (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 167
Stock of broad money
$458.3 million (31 December 2010 est.) · $425.7 million (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 175
Stock of domestic credit
$479 million (31 December 2010 est.) · $441.2 million (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 166
Agriculture - products
- coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), copra, bananas;
- poultry;
- tuna
Industries
fishing, tourism, processing of coconuts and vanilla, coir (coconut fiber) rope, boat building, printing, furniture; beverages
Current account balance
-$420.1 million (2010 est.) · -$253.1 million (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 107
Imports - commodities
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals, other manufactured goods
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$235.6 million (31 December 2010 est.) · $190.6 million (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 160
Debt - external
$1.526 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $1.624 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 146
Exchange rates
Seychelles rupees (SCR) per US dollar - 12.221 (2010) · 13.61 (2009) · 8 (2008) · 6.5 (2007) · 5.5 (2006)
Communications
7 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- effective system
- domestic:
- combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is 130 telephones per 100 persons; 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)
Broadcast media
- the government operates the only terrestrial TV station, which provides local programming and airs broadcasts from international services;
- multi-channel cable and satellite TV are available via subscription;
- the government operates 1 AM and 1 FM radio station;
- transmissions of 2 international broadcasters are accessible in Victoria (2007)
Transportation
6 fieldsMerchant marine, 9 ships by typeone square, one ship
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Airports by runway lengthunpaved only
Military
Seychelles Defense Force: Army, Coast Guard (includes Naval Wing, Air Wing), National Guard (2005)
6 fieldsMilitary branches
Seychelles Defense Force: Army, Coast Guard (includes Naval Wing, Air Wing), National Guard (2005)
Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for voluntary military service (younger with parental consent); no conscription (2010)
Transnational Issues
1 fieldDisputes - international
Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islands (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory)
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Seychelles.” The World Factbook 2011. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/seychelles/2011.