Seychelles

total: 34,966 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2020 est.)

the national broadcaster, Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), which is funded by taxpayer money, operates the only terrestrial TV station, which provides local programming and airs broadcasts from international services; a privately owned Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) channel also provides local programming multi-channel cable and satellite TV are available through 2 providers; the national broadcaster operates 1 AM and 1 FM radio station; there are 2 privately operated radio stations; transmissions of 2 international broadcasters are accessible in Victoria (2019)

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total: 90,200 (2021 est.) percent of population: 82% (2021 est.)

general assessment: effective system; direct international calls to over 100 countries; radiotelephone communications between islands in the archipelago; 3 ISPs; use of Internet cafes' for access to Internet; 4G services and 5G pending (2020) domestic: fixed-line is 18 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity is 173 telephones per 100 persons (2021) international: country code - 248; landing points for the PEACE and the SEAS submarine cables providing connectivity to Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia; direct radiotelephone communications with adjacent island countries and African coastal countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019)

total subscriptions: 19,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 18 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions: 205,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 192 (2022 est.)

coconuts, vegetables, bananas, eggs, chicken, pork, fruits, tomatoes, tropical fruits, cassava (2022) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

revenues: $431.07 million (2020 est.) expenditures: $611.548 million (2020 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Fitch rating: B+ (2020) note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

-$155.194 million (2023 est.) -$141.648 million (2022 est.) -$160.168 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

high-income Indian Ocean island economy; rapidly growing tourism sector; major tuna exporter; offshore financial hub; environmentally fragile and investing in ocean rise mitigation; recently discovered offshore oil potential; successful anticorruption efforts

Seychelles rupees (SCR) per US dollar - 14.273 (2022 est.) 16.921 (2021 est.) 17.617 (2020 est.) 14.033 (2019 est.) 13.911 (2018 est.)

$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

fish, refined petroleum, ships, aircraft, animal meal (2022) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

UAE 18%, France 17%, UK 9%, Mauritius 9%, Japan 8% (2022) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

$2.141 billion (2023 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

household consumption: 73.8% (2023 est.) government consumption: 21.3% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 16.1% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 85.9% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -97.1% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

agriculture: 2.8% (2023 est.) industry: 12% (2023 est.) services: 68% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

32.1 (2018 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

lowest 10%: 2.6% (2018 est.) highest 10%: 23.9% (2018 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$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

ships, refined petroleum, fish, plastic products, cars (2022) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

UAE 22%, Netherlands 14%, Cayman Islands 7%, France 6%, China 6% (2022) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

2.13% (2023 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

fishing, tourism, beverages

8.28% (2020 est.) 2.07% (2019 est.) 3.7% (2018 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

51,000 (2018 est.)

25.3% (2018 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line

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

$3.53 billion (2023 est.) $3.421 billion (2022 est.) $2.976 billion (2021 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

3.16% (2023 est.) 14.98% (2022 est.) 0.55% (2021 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

$29,500 (2023 est.) $28,500 (2022 est.) $30,000 (2021 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

0.49% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.49% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.64% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

$638.961 million (2022 est.) $702.585 million (2021 est.) $559.682 million (2020 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

26.18% (of GDP) (2020 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

3% (2017 est.) 2.7% (2016 est.)

total: 16.5% (2020 est.) male: 17.5% female: 15.6%

867,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 867,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

imports: (2022 est.) less than 1 metric ton

installed generating capacity: 158,000 kW (2022 est.) consumption: 571.297 million kWh (2022 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 44.034 million kWh (2022 est.)

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

fossil fuels: 86.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.) solar: 12.9% of total installed capacity (2022 est.) wind: 1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

111.2 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 6,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

particulate matter emissions: 16.96 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.61 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 0.1 megatons (2020 est.)

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

water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater; water pollution; biodiversity maintainance

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

agricultural land: 6.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 4.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 88.5% (2018 est.) other: 5% (2018 est.)

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

0.09% of GDP (2018 est.)

0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal: 10 million cubic meters (2020 est.) industrial: 3.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 900,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)

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

municipal solid waste generated annually: 48,000 tons (2012 est.)

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

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

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

491 km

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

4 35 S, 55 40 E

the smallest African country in terms of both area and population; the constitution of the Republic of Seychelles lists 155 islands, 42 granitic and 113 coralline; by far the largest island is Mahe, which is home to about 90% of the population and the site of the capital city of Victoria

3 sq km (2012)

total: 0 km

agricultural land: 6.5% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 4.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 88.5% (2018 est.) other: 5% (2018 est.)

archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar

Africa

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

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

fish, coconuts (copra), cinnamon trees

more than three-quarters of the population lives on the main island of Mahe; Praslin contains less than 10%; a smaller percent on La Digue and the outer islands as shown in this population distribution map

Mahe Group is volcanic with a narrow coastal strip and rocky, hilly interior; others are relatively flat coral atolls, or elevated reefs; sits atop the submarine Mascarene Plateau

27 administrative districts; Anse aux Pins, Anse Boileau, Anse Etoile, Anse Royale, Au Cap, Baie Lazare, Baie Sainte Anne, Beau Vallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade, Glacis, Grand Anse Mahe, Grand Anse Praslin, Ile Perseverance I, Ile Perseverance II, La Digue, La Riviere Anglaise, Les Mamelles, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe Larue, Port Glaud, Roche Caiman, Saint Louis, Takamaka

name: Victoria geographic coordinates: 4 37 S, 55 27 E time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: founded as L'etablissement in 1778 by French colonists, the town was renamed in 1841 by the British after Queen VICTORIA (1819-1901); "victoria" is the Latin word for "victory"

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Seychelles dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

history: previous 1970, 1979; latest drafted May 1993, approved by referendum 18 June 1993, effective 23 June 1993 amendments: 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; amended several times, last in 2018

conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles conventional short form: Seychelles local long form: Republic of Seychelles local short form: Seychelles etymology: named by French Captain Corneille Nicholas MORPHEY after Jean Moreau de SECHELLES, the finance minister of France, in 1756

chief of mission: Ambassador Henry V. JARDINE (since 22 February 2023); Charg d Affaires Adham LOUTFI (since 6 October 2023) note - Ambassador JARDINE is posted in Mauritius and is accredited to Seychelles, and Charg d Affaires LOUTFI is posted in Victoria, Seychelles to manage the expanding policy interests embassy: 2nd Floor, Oliaji Trade Center, Victoria Mahe, Seychelles; note - US Embassy in Seychelles reopened on 1 June 2023 after having been closed in 1996 telephone: [248] 422 5256

chief of mission: Ambassador Ian Dereck Joseph MADELEINE (since 1 December 2021); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN chancery: 685 Third Avenue, Suite 1107, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785 FAX: [1] (212) 972-1786 email address and website: seychellesmission@sycun.org Foreign Affairs Department Republic of Seychelles United States of America (mfa.gov.sc)

chief of state: President Wavel RAMKALAWAN (since 26 October 2020) head of government: President Wavel RAMKALAWAN (since 26 October 2020) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 22 to 24 October 2020 (next to be held in 2025) election results: 2020 : Wavel RAMKALAWAN elected president; Wavel RAMKALAWAN (LDS) 54.9%, Danny FAURE (US) 43.5%, other 1.6% 2015 : President James Alix MICHEL reelected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - James Alix MICHEL (PL) 47.8%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (SNP) 35.3%, other 16.9%; percent of vote in second round - James Alix MICHEL 50.2%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN 49.8% note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, and green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side; the oblique bands are meant to symbolize a dynamic new country moving into the future; blue represents sky and sea, yellow the sun giving light and life, red the peoples' determination to work for the future in unity and love, white social justice and harmony, and green the land and natural environment

presidential republic

29 June 1976 (from the UK)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

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

mixed legal system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law

description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (35 seats in the 2020-25 term; 26 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and up to 9 members elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms) elections: last held on 22-24 October 2020 (next to be held in October 2025); note - the election was originally scheduled for 2021 but was moved up a year and held alongside the presidential election in order to cut election costs election results: percent of vote by party - LDS 54.8%, US 42.3%, other 2.9%; seats by party - LDS 25, US 10; composition - men 27, women 7, percentage women 20.6%

name: "Koste Seselwa" (Seychellois Unite) lyrics/music: David Francois Marc ANDRE and George Charles Robert PAYET note: adopted 1996

total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Aldabra Atoll; Vall e de Mai Nature Reserve

Constitution Day, 18 June (1993); Independence Day (National Day), 29 June (1976)

coco de mer (sea coconut); national colors: blue, yellow, red, white, green

Seychelles Party for Social Justice and Democracy or SPSJD Seychellois Democratic Alliance or LDS (Linyon Demokratik Seselwa/Union D mocratique Seychelloise) Seychelles National Party or SNP United Seychelles or US

18 years of age; universal

Seychelles was uninhabited before Europeans discovered the islands early in the 16th century. After a lengthy struggle, France eventually ceded control of the islands to Great Britain in 1814. During colonial rule, a plantation-based economy developed that relied on imported labor, primarily from European colonies in Africa. Seychelles gained independence in 1976 through negotiations with Great Britain. In 1977, Prime Minister France-Albert RENE launched a coup against the country s first president, and Seychelles became a socialist one-party state until adopting a new constitution and holding elections in 1993. RENE continued to lead Seychelles through two election cycles until he stepped down in 2004. Vice President James Alix MICHEL took over the presidency and in 2006 was elected to a new five-year term; he was reelected in 2011 and again in 2015. In 2016, James MICHEL resigned and handed over the presidency to his vice-president, Danny FAURE. In 2020, Wavel RAMKALAWAN was elected president, the first time an opposition candidate has won the presidency.

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 has close security ties with India (2024)

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 (includes unarmed police and an armed paramilitary Police Special Support Wing, and the Marine Police Unit) (2024) note: the SDF reports to the president, who acts as minister of defense

approximately 500-1,000 personnel (2023)

the SDF's inventory primarily consists of Soviet-era equipment delivered in the 1970s and 1980s; in recent years, the SDF has received limited amounts of more modern equipment, mostly donations of patrol boats and aircraft, from several suppliers, including Bahrain, China, India, and the UAE (2024)

1.6% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2020 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2019 est.)

18-28 (18-25 for officers) years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; 6-year initial commitment; no conscription (2023)

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)

total: 9.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 4.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.49 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 4.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

11.8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

NA

6.4% of GDP (2020)

45% (2023 est.)

7 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Seychelles has no indigenous population and was first permanently settled by a small group of French planters, African slaves, and South Indians in 1770. Seychelles’ modern population is composed of the descendants of French and later British settlers, Africans, and Indian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern traders and is concentrated on three of its 155 islands – the vast majority on Mahe and lesser numbers on Praslin and La Digue. Seychelles’ population grew rapidly during the second half of the 20th century, largely due to natural increase, but the pace has slowed because of fertility decline. The total fertility rate dropped sharply from 4.0 children per woman in 1980 to 1.9 in 2015, mainly as a result of a family planning program, free education and health care, and increased female labor force participation. Life expectancy has increased steadily, but women on average live 9 years longer than men, a difference that is higher than that typical of developed countries. The combination of reduced fertility and increased longevity has resulted in an aging population, which will put pressure on the government’s provision of pensions and health care. Seychelles’ sustained investment in social welfare services, such as free primary health care and education up to the post-secondary level, have enabled the country to achieve a high human development index score – among the highest in Africa. Despite some of its health and education indicators being nearly on par with Western countries, Seychelles has a high level of income inequality. An increasing number of migrant workers – mainly young men – have been coming to Seychelles in recent years to work in the construction and tourism industries. As of 2011, foreign workers made up nearly a quarter of the workforce. Indians are the largest non-Seychellois population – representing half of the country’s foreigners – followed by Malagasy.

total dependency ratio: 45 youth dependency ratio: 33.6 elderly dependency ratio: 11.4 potential support ratio: 8.7 (2021 est.)

improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 96.2% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 3.8% of population (2017 est.)

5.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

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

0.89 (2024 est.)

3.6 beds/1,000 population (2011)

total: 10.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.) male: 12.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.4 deaths/1,000 live births

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

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

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.9% male: 95.4% female: 96.4% (2018)

28,000 VICTORIA (capital) (2018)

3 deaths/100,000 live births (2020)

total: 38.7 years (2024 est.) male: 38.2 years female: 39.4 years

noun: Seychellois (singular and plural) adjective: Seychellois

0.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

14% (2016)

2.25 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

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

more than three-quarters of the population lives on the main island of Mahe; Praslin contains less than 10%; a smaller percent on La Digue and the outer islands as shown in this population distribution map

0.56% (2024 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.)

improved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: NA rural: NA total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

total: 15 years male: 13 years female: 16 years (2021)

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.14 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

total: 20.2% (2020 est.) male: 34% (2020 est.) female: 6.4% (2020 est.)

1.81 children born/woman (2024 est.)

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

16 (2024)

S7

6 (2024)

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

number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 7 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 455,201 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 7.79 million (2018) mt-km

total ports: 1 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 0 very small: 1 ports with oil terminals: 1 key ports: Victoria

total: 526 km paved: 514 km unpaved: 12 km (2015)