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Communications

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Army, Coast Guard, Marines, National Guard, Presidential Protection Unit, Police Force

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

$NA, NA% of GDP

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 21,547 males fit for military service: 10,883 (1996 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

34,000 (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

8,300 (1982 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

Televisions [time series]

8,200 (1991 est.) Defense

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), bananas; broiler chickens; expansion of tuna fishing under way

Budget [time series]

revenues: $227.4 million expenditures: $263 million, including capital expenditures of $54 million (1993 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Seychelles rupee (SRe) = 100 cents

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economic overview [time series]

Since independence in 1976, per capita output has grown to roughly seven times the old near-subsistence level, led by the tourist sector, which employs about 30% of the labor force and provides more than 70% of hard currency earnings. 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 high 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.

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 30,000 kW production: 110 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,399 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

Seychelles rupees (SRe) per US$1 - 4.9257 (January 1996), 4.7620 (1995), 5.0559 (1994), 5.1815 (1993), 5.1220 (1992), 5.2893 (1991)

Exports [time series]

$50 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (re-exports) partners: France 43%, UK 22%, Reunion 11%, (1992)

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$181 million (1993 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $430 million (1993 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Real GDP per capita (GDP per capita) [time series]

$6,000 (1993 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]

-2% (1993 est.)

Imports [time series]

$261 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: manufactured goods, food, petroleum products, tobacco, beverages, machinery and transportation equipment partners: Singapore 16%, Bahrain 16%, South Africa, 14%, UK 13% (1992)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

4% (1992)

Industries [time series]

tourism, processing of coconut and vanilla, fishing, coir (coconut fiber) rope factory, boat building, printing, furniture, beverage

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3.9% (1993 est.)

Labor force [time series]

27,700 (1985) by occupation: industry and commerce 31%, services 21%, government 20%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 12%, other 16% (1985)

Unemployment rate [time series]

9% (1987)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 455 sq km land area: 455 sq km comparative area: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May)

Coastline [time series]

491 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: no natural fresh water resources, catchments collect rain water natural hazards: lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; short droughts possible international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Desertification

Geographic coordinates [time series]

4 35 S, 55 40 E

Geography - note (Geographic note) [time series]

40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

claims Tromelin Island

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 4% permanent crops: 18% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 18% other: 60%

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources [time series]

fish, copra, cinnamon trees

Terrain [time series]

Mahe Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky, hilly; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Morne Seychellois 905 m

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Victoria

Constitution [time series]

18 June 1993

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Marc Michael R. MARENGO chancery: (temporary) 820 Second Avenue, Suite 900F, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 687-9766, 9767

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state and head of government: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977) was elected for a five-year term by popular vote; election last held 20-23 July 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results - President France Albert RENE (SPPF) reelected with 59.5% of the vote, Sir James MANCHAM (DP) 36.72% cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (212) 922-9177

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[248] 225189

Flag [time series]

five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, and green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side

Independence [time series]

29 June 1976 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch [time series]

Court of Appeal; Supreme Court

Legal system [time series]

based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral People's Assembly (Assemblee du Peuple): elections last held 20-23 July 1993 (next to be held NA); results - SPPF 82%, DP 15%, UO 3%; seats - (33 total, 22 elected, 11 awarded) seats elected - SPPF 21, DP 1; seats awarded - SPPF 6, DP 4, UO 1 note: the 11 awarded seats are apportioned according to the share of each party in the total vote

Country name (Name of country) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

National Day, 18 June (1993) (adoption of new constitution)

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

trade unions; Roman Catholic Church

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

ruling party - Seychelles People's Progressive Front (SPPF), France Albert RENE; Democratic Party (DP), Sir James MANCHAM; United Opposition (UO), Wavel RAMKALAWAN - a coalition of the following parties: Seychelles Party (PS), Wavel RAMKALAWAN; Seychelles Democratic Movement (MSPD), Jacques HONDOUL; Seychelles Liberal Party (SLP), Ogilvie BERLOUIS; New Democratic Party , Christopher GILL (former member of DP)

Suffrage [time series]

17 years of age; universal

Government type (Type of government) [time series]

republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Carl Burton STOKES embassy: 4th Floor, Victoria House, Box 251, Victoria, Mahe mailing address: Box 148, Victoria; Unit 62501, APO AE 09815-2501 telephone: [248] 225256

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 31% (male 12,005; female 11,835) 15-64 years: 63% (male 24,003; female 24,946) 65 years and over: 6% (male 1,669; female 3,117) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

21.02 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.31 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Seychellois (mixture of Asians, Africans, Europeans)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

12.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official), French (official), Creole

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 69.24 years male: 64.23 years female: 74.39 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over can read and write (1971 est.) total population: 58% male: 56% female: 60%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Seychellois (singular and plural) adjective: Seychelles

Net migration rate [time series]

-6.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population [time series]

77,575 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.76% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 90%, Anglican 8%, other 2%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.54 male(s)/female all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.09 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 14 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5 with paved runways under 914 m: 6 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 2 (1995 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 269 km paved: 187 km unpaved: 82 km (1988 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

none

Ports [time series]

Victoria

Railways [time series]

0 km