Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

35,000 (1993 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]

13,000 (1995 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

2 (in a government network)

Televisions [time series]

6,000 (1993 est.)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $220 million expenditures: $241 million, including capital expenditures of $36 million (1994 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Seychelles rupee (SRe) = 100 cents

Debt - external [time series]

$170 million (1994 est.)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Since independence in 1976, per capita output in this Indian Ocean archipelago 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 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 - capacity [time series]

33,000 kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

1,582 kWh (1992 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

110 million kWh (1992)

Exchange rates [time series]

Seychelles rupees (SRe) per US$1 - 4.9968 (January 1997), 4.9700 (1996), 4.7620 (1995), 5.0559 (1994), 5.1815 (1993), 5.1220 (1992)

Exports [time series]

total value: $56.1 million ( f.o.b. 1995) commodities: fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (re-exports) partners : France, UK, China, Germany, Japan (1993)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $450 million (1995 est.)

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

agriculture : 3.6% industry: 15% services: 81.4% (1994)

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

purchasing power parity - $6,000 (1995 est.)

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

1.1% (1995 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $238 million (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: manufactured goods, food, petroleum products, tobacco, beverages, machinery and transportation equipment partners: China, Singapore, South Africa, UK (1993)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

4% (1992)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

-0.3% (1995 est.)

Labor force [time series]

total: 26,000 (1996) by occupation: industry and commerce 31%, services 21%, government 20%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 12%, other 16% (1985)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Area [time series]

total: 455 sq km land: 455 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

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

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point : Morne Seychellois 905 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

water supply depends on catchments to collect rain water

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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 [time series]

40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 2% permanent crops: 13% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: 11% other: 74% (1993 est.)

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 hazards [time series]

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

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

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

Constitution [time series]

18 June 1993

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

SE

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to the Seychelles

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim Claude MOREL chancery: (temporary) care of the Permanent Mission of Seychelles to the United Nations, 820 Second Avenue, Suite 900F, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785

Executive branch [time series]

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

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

[1] (212) 972-1786

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

republic

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 National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (33 seats, 22 popularly elected by direct vote, 11 allocated on a proportional basis to parties winning at least 9 percent of the vote; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 20-23 July 1993 (next to be held NA 1998) election results: percent of vote by party - SPPF 82%, DP 15%, UO 3%; seats by party (elected) - SPPF 21, DP 1; seats by party (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

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Victoria

National holiday [time series]

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

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

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

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

trade unions; Roman Catholic Church

Suffrage [time series]

17 years of age; universal

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$13.7 million (1995)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

NA%

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 21,860 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males : 11,030 (1997 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 30.2% (male 11,885; female 11,708) 15-64 years: 63.5% (male 24,336; female 25,293) 65 years and over: 6.3% (male 1,698; female 3,187) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

20.53 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate [time series]

7.14 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Seychellois (mixture of Asians, Africans, Europeans)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

12.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official), French (official), Creole

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population : 69.57 years male: 64.81 years female: 74.47 years (1997 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Seychellois (singular and plural) adjective: Seychelles

Net migration rate [time series]

-6.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population [time series]

78,107 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.7% (1997 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: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over : 0.53 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.06 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

claims Tromelin Island SIERRA LEONE

Airports [time series]

14 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total : 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 6 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total : 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1996 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 270 km paved: 170 km unpaved: 100 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

none

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Victoria

Railways [time series]

0 km