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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.sc

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

324 (2009) country comparison to the world: 179

Internet users [time series]

32,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 179

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 2 (2001)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

23,200 (2008) country comparison to the world: 188

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

85,300 (2008) country comparison to the world: 184

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

2 (plus 9 repeaters) (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), bananas; poultry; tuna

Budget [time series]

revenues: $260.5 million expenditures: $291.2 million (2008 est.)

Central bank discount rate [time series]

NA% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 90 5.13% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

11.81% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 76 10.89% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance [time series]

-$430 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 102 -$274.8 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$1.422 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 145 $1.059 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

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 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 and large financing gaps, with GDP growth reduced to about 3% in 2008. In July 2008 the government defaulted on a Euro amortizing note worth roughly US$80 million, leading to a downgrading of Seychelles credit rating. Seychelles requested an IMF Stand-By Agreement in December 2008.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

232.5 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 173

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

250 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 172

Exchange rates [time series]

Seychelles rupees (SCR) per US dollar - 8 (2008 est.), 6.5 (2007), 5.5 (2006), 5.5 (2005), 5.5 (2004)

Exports [time series]

$495 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 162 $391.7 million (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

canned tuna, frozen fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (reexports)

Exports - partners [time series]

UK 21.1%, France 19.1%, Mauritius 10.1%, Japan 7.9%, Italy 7.8%, Netherlands 6% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$822 million (2008 est.)

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

$1.821 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 185 $1.838 billion (2007 est.) $1.675 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

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

agriculture: 2% industry: 28.9% services: 69.2% (2008 est.)

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

$21,000 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 59 $21,400 (2007 est.) $19,800 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

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

-0.9% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 206 9.7% (2007 est.) 9.3% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$1.018 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 171 $804 million (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals

Imports - partners [time series]

Saudi Arabia 17.5%, Singapore 12.4%, France 10.3%, Spain 8.1%, Germany 7%, India 5.4%, South Africa 4.7% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

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]

37% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 220 5.3% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

13.7% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Labor force [time series]

39,560 (2006) country comparison to the world: 191

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 3% industry: 23% services: 74% (2006)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 138

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 121

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 136

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Oil - consumption [time series]

7,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

Oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 168

Oil - imports [time series]

7,653 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 145

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 136

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Public debt [time series]

74.2% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 15 122.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$64 million (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 151 $40.8 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$375.6 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 117 $660.2 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of money) [time series]

$164.8 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 107 $330.8 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of quasi money) [time series]

$188.5 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 117 $249 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate [time series]

2% (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 19

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 455 sq km country comparison to the world: 198 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 rainwater

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

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

4 35 S, 55 40 E

Geography - note [time series]

41 granitic and about 75 coralline islands

Irrigated land [time series]

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 2.17% permanent crops: 13.04% other: 84.79% (2005)

Location [time series]

archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

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]

name: Victoria geographic coordinates: 4 38 S, 55 27 E time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution [time series]

18 June 1993

Country name [time series]

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

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 Jean Ronald JUMEAU chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785 FAX: [1] (212) 972-1786

Executive branch [time series]

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 MICHEL (since 14 April 2004) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for two more terms); election last held 28-30 July 2006 (next to be held in 2011) election results: President James MICHEL elected president; percent of vote - James MICHEL 53.73%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN 45.71%, Philippe BOULLE 0.56%; note - this was the first 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

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 the UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Judicial branch [time series]

Court of Appeal; Supreme Court; judges for both courts are appointed by the president

Legal system [time series]

based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

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; to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 10-12 May 2007 (next to be held in 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - SPPF 56.2%, SNP 43.8%; seats by party - SPPF 23, SNP 11

National holiday [time series]

Constitution Day (National Day), 18 June (1993)

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

Democratic Party or DP [James MANCHAM, Paul CHOW]; Seychelles National Party or SNP [Wavel RAMKALAWAN] (formerly the United Opposition or UO); People's Party (Parti Lepep) or PL [France Albert RENE, James MICHEL] (the governing party)

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

Roman Catholic Church other: trade unions

Suffrage [time series]

17 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 23,598 females age 16-49: 24,424 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 19,702 females age 16-49: 19,780 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 714 female: 685 (2009 est.)

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

Seychelles Defense Force: Army, Coast Guard (includes Naval Wing, Air Wing), National Guard (2005)

Military expenditures [time series]

2% of GDP (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 82

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for voluntary military service (younger with parental consent); no conscription (2008)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 22.8% (male 10,201/female 9,732) 15-64 years: 70.1% (male 31,870/female 29,439) 65 years and over: 7.1% (male 2,321/female 3,913) (2009 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

15.87 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

Death rate [time series]

6.93 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

6.5% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 31

Ethnic groups [time series]

mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 12.3 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 142 male: 15.44 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages [time series]

Creole 91.8%, English 4.9% (official), other 3.1%, unspecified 0.2% (2002 census)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 73.02 years country comparison to the world: 112 male: 68.33 years female: 77.85 years (2009 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 91.8% male: 91.4% female: 92.3% (2002 census)

Median age [time series]

total: 31.4 years male: 30.9 years female: 32 years (2009 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Seychellois (singular and plural) adjective: Seychellois

Net migration rate [time series]

1.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 55

Population [time series]

87,476 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 197

Population growth rate [time series]

0.999% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 82.3%, Anglican 6.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.1%, other Christian 3.4%, Hindu 2.1%, Muslim 1.1%, other non-Christian 1.5%, unspecified 1.5%, none 0.6% (2002 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 15 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2007)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.93 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 138

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 54% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

together with Mauritius, Seychelles claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

14 (2009) country comparison to the world: 149

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 1 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 5 (2009)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 8 country comparison to the world: 121 by type: cargo 1, carrier 1, chemical tanker 6 foreign-owned: 3 (Hong Kong 1, Nigeria 1, South Africa 1) (2008)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Victoria

Roadways [time series]

total: 458 km country comparison to the world: 193 paved: 440 km unpaved: 18 km (2003)