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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

50,000 (1996 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 addition, there are 9 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

12,000 (1996 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), bananas; broiler chickens; tuna fish

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 (Debt--external) [time series]

$170 million (1994 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$16.4 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

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, which accounted for 70% of GDP in 1996-97. 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. Other issues facing the government are the curbing of the budget deficit and further privatization of public enterprises.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

125 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

125 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

Seychelles rupees (SRe) per US$1--5.4540 (January 1999), 5.2622 (1998), 5.0263 (1997), 4.9700 (1996), 4.7620 (1995), 5.0559 (1994)

Exports [time series]

$53 million ( f.o.b., 1995)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (reexports)

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

France, UK, China, Germany, Japan (1993)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity--$550 million (1997 est.)

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

agriculture: 4% industry: 15% services: 81% (1994)

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

purchasing power parity?$7,000 (1997 est.)

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

4.3% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$340 million (c.i.f., 1997)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

manufactured goods, food, petroleum products, tobacco, beverages, machinery and transportation equipment

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

China, Singapore, South Africa, UK (1993)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

4% (1992)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

0.6% (1997)

Labor force [time series]

26,000 (1996)

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

industry 19%, services 57%, government 14%, fishing, agriculture, and forestry 10% (1989)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

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

Area - comparative (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 (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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geographic coordinates [time series]

4 35 S, 55 40 E

Geography - note (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

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

Capital [time series]

Victoria

Constitution [time series]

18 June 1993

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

the US does not have an embassy in Seychelles; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Seychelles

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Claude MOREL chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York, NY 10017

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 20-22 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2003) election results: President France Albert RENE reelected; percent of vote--France Albert RENE (SPPF) 61%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (UO) 27%, Sir James MANCHAM (DP) 12%

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, InOC, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch [time series]

Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the president; Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president

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 (35 seats--25 elected by popular vote, 10 allocated on a proportional basis to parties winning at least nine percent of the vote; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 20-22 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2003) election results: percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party (elected)--SPPF 24, DP 1; seats by party (awarded)--SPPF 6, DP 1, UO 3 note: the 10 awarded seats are apportioned according to the share of each party in the total vote

National holiday [time series]

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

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

ruling party--Seychelles People's

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

trade unions; Roman Catholic Church

Suffrage [time series]

17 years of age; universal

Military

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

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$13.7 million (1995)

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

NA%

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 22,420 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 11,242 (1999 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 29% (male 11,712; female 11,569) 15-64 years: 64% (male 24,879; female 26,038) 65 years and over: 7% (male 1,709; female 3,257) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

19.39 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.56 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Seychellois (mixture of Asians, Africans, Europeans)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

16.65 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official), French (official), Creole

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 70.95 years male: 66.61 years female: 75.42 years (1999 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]

-6.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

79,164 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.65% (1999 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: 0.52 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.97 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

claims Chagos Archipelago in British Indian Ocean Territory

Transportation

Airports [time series]

14 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 280 km paved: 176 km unpaved: 104 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

none

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Victoria

Railways [time series]

0 km