Background: 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.

Map reference: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

Area
Total: 455 km²
Land: 455 km²

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 491 km
Continental shelf: 200 nm or the edge of continental margin
Exclusive 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

Natural resources: fish, copra, cinnamon trees

Land use
Arable land: 4%
Permanent crops: 18%
Meadows and pastures: 0%
Forest and woodland: 18%
Other: 60%

Irrigated land: NA km²

Population: 71,494 (July 1993 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Seychellois (singular and plural)
Adjective: Seychelles

Ethnic groups: Seychellois (mixture of Asians, Africans, Europeans)

Languages: English (official), French (official), Creole

Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Anglican 8%, other 2%

Birth rate: 22.35 births/1000 population (1993 est.)

Death rate: 7.12 deaths/1000 population (1993 est.)

Net migration rate: -6.43 migrant(s)/1000 population (1993 est.)

Environment
Current issues: lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; short droughts possible; no fresh water - catchments collect rain; 40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands

Infant mortality rate: 12.1 deaths/1000 live births (1993 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 69.26 years
Male: 65.56 years
Female: 73.07 years (1993 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.3 children born/woman (1993 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1971)
Total population: 58%
Male: 56%
Female: 60%

Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles
Conventional short form: Seychelles

Government type: republic

Capital:

Independence: 29 June 1976 (from UK)

National holiday: Liberation Day, 5 June (1977) (anniversary of coup)

Constitution: 5 June 1979

Legal system: based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law

Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal

Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers

Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly (Assemblee du Peuple)

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, Supreme Court

International organization participation:

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Second Secretary, Charge d'Affaires ad interim Marc R.
In the us chancery: (temporary) 820 Second Avenue, Suite 900F, New York, NY 10,017
In the us telephone: (212) 687-9,766
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Matthew F. MATTINGLY
From the us embassy: 4th Floor, Victoria House, Victoria
From the us mailing address: Victoria House, Box 251, Victoria, Mahe, or Box 148, Unit 62,501, APO AE 9,815-2,501
From the us telephone: (248) 25,256
From the us fax: (248) 25,189

Flag description: three horizontal bands of red (top), white (wavy), and green; the white band is the thinnest, the red band is the thickest

Economy overview: In this small, open, tropical island economy, the tourist industry 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 high dependence on tourism by promoting the development of farming, fishing, and small-scale manufacturing.

Real gdp growth rate: -4.5% (1991 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $5,200 (1991 est.)

Agriculture 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: growth rate 7% (1987; accounts for 10% of GDP capita (1991)

Labor force: 27,700 (1985)
By occupation industry and commerce: 31%
By occupation services: 21%
By occupation government: 20%
By occupation agriculture forestry and fishing: 12%
By occupation other:

Unemployment rate: 9% (1987)

Budget: revenues $180 million; expenditures $202 million, including capital expenditures of $32 million (1989)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $40 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
Commodoties: fish, copra, cinnamon bark, petroleum products (reexports)
Partners: France 63%, Pakistan 12%, Reunion 10%, UK 7% (1987)

Imports: $186 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
Commodoties: manufactured goods, food, tobacco, beverages, machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products
Partners:

Exchange rates: Seychelles rupees (SRe) per US$1 - 5.2545 (January 1993), 5.1220 (1992), 5.2893 (1991), 5.3369 (1990), 5.6457 (1989), 5.3836 (1988)

Military expenditures
Percent of gdp: exchange rate conversion - $12 million, 4% of GDP (1990 est.)

Airports: 14
Usable: 14
With permanentsurface runways: 8
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 1
With runways 1220-2439 m: 1

Merchant marine: 1 refrigerated cargo totaling 1,827 GRT/2,170 DWT

Disputes international: claims Tromelin Island