Seychelles

presidential republic

name: Victoria geographic coordinates: 4 37 S, 55 27 E time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the British named the town Port Victoria in 1841 after Queen VICTORIA; the name was later shortened

chief of state: President Patrick HERMINIE (since 26 October 2025) head of government: President Patrick HERMINIE (since 26 October 2025) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term) most recent election date: 9 October 2025 election results: 2025 : Patrick HERMINIE elected president; Patrick HERMINIE (US) 52.7%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (LDS) 47.3% expected date of next election: 2030 note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

legislature name: National Assembly legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 34 (all directly elected) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 9/27/2025 parties elected and seats per party: United Seychelles (US) (19); Seychelles Democratic Alliance (Linyon Demokratik Seselwa, LDS) (15) percentage of women in chamber: 26.5% expected date of next election: September 2030

highest court(s): Seychelles Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 4 justices); Supreme Court of Seychelles (consists of the chief justice and 9 puisne judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 3 Supreme Court judges) judge selection and term of office: all judges appointed by the president of the republic upon the recommendation of the Constitutional Appointments Authority, a 3-member body, with 1 member appointed by the president of the republic, 1 by the opposition leader in the National Assembly, and 1 by the other 2 appointees; judges serve until retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: Magistrates' Courts of Seychelles; Family Tribunal for issues such as domestic violence, child custody, and maintenance; Employment Tribunal for labor-related disputes

history: previous 1970, 1979; latest drafted May 1993, approved by referendum 18 June 1993, effective 23 June 1993 amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the National Assembly; passage of amendments affecting the country s sovereignty, symbols and languages, the supremacy of the constitution, fundamental rights and freedoms, amendment procedures, and dissolution of the Assembly also requires approval by at least 60% of voters in a referendum

ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, C, CD, COMESA, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

1.5% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Seychelles People's Defense Forces (SPDF; aka Seychelles Defense Forces, SDF): Army (includes infantry, special forces, and a presidential security unit), Coast Guard, and Air Force Ministry of Internal Affairs: Seychelles Police Force (2025)

18-35 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2026)

formed in 1977, the SDF is one of the World's smallest militaries; its primary responsibility is maritime security, including countering illegal fishing, piracy, and drug smuggling; it was given police powers in 2022; the Seychelles maintains close security ties with India, which has provided support to the SDF's maritime security operations (2025)

$3.549 billion (2024 est.) $3.43 billion (2023 est.) $3.354 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

$29,200 (2024 est.) $28,600 (2023 est.) $28,000 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

3.5% (2024 est.) 2.3% (2023 est.) 12.7% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

0.3% (2024 est.) -1% (2023 est.) 2.6% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

63.6% of GDP (2017 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP

$2.375 billion (2023 est.) $2.247 billion (2022 est.) $1.751 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

$2.437 billion (2023 est.) $2.298 billion (2022 est.) $1.821 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

revenues: $695.973 million (2023 est.) expenditures: $728.171 million (2023 est.) note: central government revenues and expenditures (excluding grants and social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

fishing, tourism, beverages

coconuts, vegetables, bananas, eggs, chicken, pork, fruits, tomatoes, tropical fruits, cassava (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

total: 98,187 (2024 est.) male: 50,973 female: 47,214

0.53% (2025 est.)

0-14 years: 17.7% (male 8,912/female 8,439) 15-64 years: 72.4% (male 37,841/female 33,210) 65 years and over: 10% (2024 est.) (male 4,220/female 5,565)

11.59 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

7.02 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

total population: 76.6 years (2024 est.) male: 72.2 years female: 81.1 years

urban population: 58.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

predominantly Creole (mainly of East African and Malagasy heritage); also French, Indian, Chinese, and Arab populations

Seychellois Creole (official) 89.1%, English (official) 5.1%, French (official) 0.7%, other 3.8%, unspecified 1.4% (2010 est.)

Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 10.5% (Anglican 6.1%, Pentecostal Assembly 1.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.2%, other Protestant 1.7%), other Christian 2.4%, Hindu 2.4%, Muslim 1.6%, other non-Christian 1.1%, unspecified 4.8%, none 0.9% (2010 est.)

fish, coconuts (copra), cinnamon trees

16 (2025)

total: 30 (2023) by type: general cargo 6, oil tanker 6, other 18

total subscriptions: 165,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 192 (2022 est.)

percent of population: 87% (2023 est.)