Statistical information Seychelles 1990
Seychelles in the World
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries: none
Coastline: 491 km
Maritime claimsContinental shelf: edge of continental margin or 200 nm
Extended economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September; warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May)
Terrain: Mahe Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky, hilly; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs
ElevationNatural resources: fish, copra, cinnamon trees
Land use: 4% arable land; 18% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 18% forest and woodland; 60% other
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: located north-northeast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean geoad2
top of pagePopulation: 68,336 (July 1990), growth rate 0.9% (1990)
Nationality: noun--Seychellois (sing. and pl.; adjective--Seychelles
Ethnic groups: Seychellois (mixture of Asians, Africans, Europeans)
Languages: English and French (official; Creole
Religions: 90% Roman Catholic, 8% Anglican, 2% other
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 24 births/1000 population (1990)
Death rate: 7 deaths/1000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: - 8 migrants/1000 population (1990)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; short droughts possible; no fresh water, catchements collect rain; 40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 15 deaths/1000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 65 years male, 75 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 2.6 children born/woman (1990)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: 60%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles
Government type: republic; member of the Commonwealth
Capital: Victoria
Administrative divisions: none; note--there may be 21 administrative districts named Anse Boileau, Anse Etoile, Anse Louis, Anse Royale, Baie Lazare, Baie St. Anne, Beau Vallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade, Glacis, Grand Anse (on Mahe Island), Grand Anse (on Praslin Island), La Digue, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe Larue, Port-Glaud, Riviere Anglaise, St. Louis, Takamaka
Dependent areasIndependence: 29 June 1976 (from UK)
National holiday: Liberation Day (anniversary of coup), 5 June (1977)
Constitution: 5 June 1979
Legal system: based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: universal at age 17
Executive branch: Chief of State and Head of Government--President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977)
Legislative branch: Army, Navy, Air Force, Militia
Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, Supreme Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ACP, AfDB, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, NAM, OAU, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representationIn the us: Second Secretary, Charge d'Affaires ad interim Marc R. MARENGO; Chancery (temporary) at 820 Second Avenue, Suite 201, New York, NY 10,017; telephone (212) 687-9,766; US--Ambassador James MORAN; Embassy at 4th Floor, Victoria House, Victoria (mailing address is Box 148, Victoria, or APO New York 9,030; telephone 23,921 or 23,922
Flag description: three horizontal bands of red (top), white (wavy), and green; the white band is the thinnest, the red band is the thickest
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: In this small, open tropical island economy, the tourist industry employs about 30% of the labor force and provides the main source 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.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capita pppGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: accounts for 7% of GDP, mostly subsistence farming; cash crops--coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla; other products--sweet potatoes, cassava, bananas; broiler chickens; large share of food needs imported; expansion of tuna fishing under way
Industries: tourism, processing of coconut and vanilla, fishing, coir rope factory, boat building, printing, furniture, beverage
Industrial production growth rate: 7% (1987)
Labor force:
27,700; 31%
industry and commerce, 21%
services, 20% government, 12% agriculture, forestry, and fishing, 16% other (1985; 57% of population of working age (1983)
Unemployment rate: 15% (1986)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $106 million; expenditures $130 million, including capital expenditures of $21 million (1987)
Public debtTaxes and other revenuesRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Current account balanceInflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $17 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.)
Commodities: fish, copra, cinnamon bark, petroleum products (reexports)
Partners: France 63%, Pakistan 12%, Reunion 10%, UK 7% (1987)
Imports: $116 million (f.o.b., 1988 est.)
Commodities: manufactured goods, food, tobacco, beverages, machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products
Partners: UK 20%, France 14%, South Africa 13%, PDRY 13%, Singapore 8%, Japan 6% (1987)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $178 million (December 1988)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Seychelles rupees (SR) per US$1--5.4884 (January 1990), 5.6457 (1989), 5.3836 (1988), 5.6000 (1987), 6.1768 (1986), 7.1343 (1985)
top of pageElectricity accessElectricity productionElectricity consumptionElectricity exportsElectricity importsElectricity installed generating capacityElectricity transmission distribution lossesElectricity generation sourcesPetroleumRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones fixed linesTelephones mobile cellularTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternet country codeInternet usersBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresPercent of gdp: 6% of GDP, or $12 million (1990 est.)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 14 total, 14 usable; 8 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Airports with paved runwaysAirports with unpaved runwaysHeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marine: 1 refrigerated cargo (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,827 GRT/2,170 DWT
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: claims Tromelin Island
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs