Background: A lengthy struggle between France and Great Britain for the islands ended in 1814, when they were ceded to the latter. During colonial rule, a plantation-based economy developed that relied on imported labor, primarily from European colonies in Africa. Independence came in 1976. Following a coup d’etat in 1977, the country was a socialist one-party state until adopting a new constitution and holding free elections in 1993. President France-Albert RENE, who had served since 1977, was reelected in 2001, but 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.

Geographic coordinates: 4 35 S, 55 40 E

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: 455 km²
Land: 455 km²
Water: 0 km²
Rank: 199
Comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 491 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

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 volcanic with a narrow coastal strip and rocky, hilly interior; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs

Elevation
Lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Highest point: Morne Seychellois 905 m

Natural resources: fish, coconuts (copra), cinnamon trees

Land use
Agricultural land: 6.5% (2011 est.)
Forest: 88.5% (2011 est.)
Other: 5% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land: 3 km² (2012)

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

Geography
Note: the smallest African country; 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

Population
Distribution: 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: 94,633 (July 2018 est.)
Rank: 198
Growth rate: 0.74% (2018 est.)
Growth rate rank: 136
Below poverty line: 39.3% (2013 est.)

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

Ethnic groups: predominantly creole (mainly of East African and Malagasy heritage); also French, Indian, Chinese, and Arab populations

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

Religions: 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.)

Demographic profile: 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.

Age structure
0-14 years: 19.52% (male 9,482 /female 8,989)
15-24 years: 12.96% (male 6,461 /female 5,806)
25-54 years: 49.29% (male 24,841 /female 21,800)
55-64 years: 10.44% (male 5,008 /female 4,870)
65 years and over: 7.79% (male 2,974 /female 4,402) (2018 est.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 42.8 (2015 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 31 (2015 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 11.7 (2015 est.)
Potential support ratio: 8.5 (2015 est.)

Median age
Total: 35.8 years (2018 est.)
Male: 35.3 years
Female: 36.5 years
Rank: 76

Population growth rate: 0.74% (2018 est.)
Rank: 136

Birth rate: 13.4 births/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 142

Death rate: 7 deaths/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 130

Net migration rate: 1 migrant(s)/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 61

Population distribution: 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

Urbanization
Urban population: 57.1% of total population
Note: (2015-20 est.)
Rate of urbanization: 1.26% annual rate of change

Major urban areas
Population: 28,000 VICTORIA (capital) (2018)

Environment
Current issues: water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater; water pollution; biodiversity maintainance
International agreements 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
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 9.7 deaths/1000 live births (2018 est.)
Male: 12.1 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 7.2 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 136

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 75.2 years (2018 est.)
Male: 70.7 years
Female: 79.8 years
Rank: 111

Total fertility rate: 1.85 children born/woman (2018 est.)
Rank: 144

Drinking water source
Urban: 4.3% of population
Rural: 4.3% of population
Total: 4.3% of population (2015 est.)

Current health expenditure: 3.9% (2013)

Physicians density: 0.95 physicians/1000 population (2016)

Hospital bed density: 3.6 beds/1000 population (2011)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 1.6% of population (2015 est.)
Rural: 1.6% of population (2015 est.)
Total: 1.6% of population (2015 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate note: NA
People living with hivaids note: NA
Deaths note: NA

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 14% (2016)
Rank: 130

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3.6% (2012)
Rank: 91

Education expenditures: 4.4% of GDP (2016)
Rank: 89

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 91.8%
Male: 91.4%
Female: 92.3% (2012)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 16 years
Male: 15 years
Female: 16 years (2016)

Country name
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

Government type: presidential republic

Capital
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'

Administrative divisions: 25 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, Inner Islands, La Riviere Anglaise, Les Mamalles, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe Larue, Port Glaud, Roche Caiman, Saint Louis, Takamaka

Independence: 29 June 1976 (from the UK)

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

Constitution
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 2017 (2017)

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

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship
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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Danny FAURE (since 16 October 2016); Vice President Vincent MERITON (since 28 October 2016); note - James Alix MICHEL resigned the presidency effective 16 October 2016; the president is both chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Danny FAURE (since 16 October 2016); Vice President Vincent MERITON (since 28 October 2016)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Electionsappointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for 1 additional term); election last held on 3-5 December 2015 with a runoff on 16-18 December 2015 (next to be held in December 2020)
Election results: President James Alix MICHEL reelected president in second round; percent of vote - James Alix MICHEL (PL) 50.2%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (SNP) 49.8%

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (up to 35 seats - the Assembly elected in September 2016 has 33 members; 25 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and up to 10 members elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)
Elections: last held on 8-10 September 2016 (next to be held in 2021); note - the National Assembly was dissolved in July 2011 resulting in early elections
Election results: percent of vote by party - LDS 49.6%, PL 49.2%, other 1.2%; seats by party - LDS 19, PL 14; composition - men 26, women 7, percent of women 21.2%

Judicial branch
Highest courts: 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

Political parties and leaders: Lafors Seselwa Demokratik or LSD [Martin AGLAE]Seselwa (Seychelles) United Party or SUP [Robert ERNESTA] (formerly the New Democratic Party or NDP)Seychelles National Party or SNP [Wavel RAMKALAWAN] (formerly the United Opposition or UO)Seychelles Party for Social Justice and Democracy or SPSD [Alexia AMESBURY]Seychelles Patriotic Movement or SPM [Vincent LARUER]Seychelloise Alliance (Lalyans Seselwa) [Patrick PILLAY]Seychellois Democratic Alliance (Linyon Demokratik Seselwa) or LDS [Roger MANCIENNE] (includes SNP, SPSD, and SUP)United Seychelles or US [Vincent MERITON] (formerly People's Party (Parti Lepep) or PL; (formerly SPPF)

International organization participation: 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 (observer)

Diplomatic representation
In the us chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York, NY 10,017
In the us telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785
In the us FAX: [1] (212) 972-1786
In the us consulate: New York
From the us: the US does not have an embassy in Seychelles; the US Ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Seychelles

Flag description: 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

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

National anthem
Name: Koste Seselwa (Seychellois Unite)
Lyricsmusic: David Francois Marc ANDRE and George Charles Robert PAYET: note: adopted 1996

Economy overview: 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 high income group of countries. Growth has been led by the tourism sector, which directly employs about 26% of the labor force and directly and indirectly accounts for more than 55% of GDP, and by tuna fishing. In recent years, the government has encouraged foreign investment to upgrade hotels and tourism industry services. At the same time, the government has moved to reduce the dependence on tourism by promoting the development of the offshore financial, information, and communication sectors and renewable energy.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 190

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 43

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 70

Gross national saving:
Rank: 169

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 52.7% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 34.4% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 26.7% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 79.4% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -93.2% (2017 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 2.5% (2017 est.)
Industry: 13.8% (2017 est.)
Services: 83.7% (2017 est.)

Agriculture products: coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (manioc, tapioca), copra, bananas; tuna

Industries: fishing, tourism, beverages

Industrial production growth rate: 2.3% (2017 est.)
Rank: 121

Labor force: 47,210 (2017 est.)
Rank: 194
By occupation agriculture: 3%
By occupation industry: 23%
By occupation services: 74% (2006)

Unemployment rate:
Rank: 37

Population below poverty line: 39.3% (2013 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 4.7%
Highest 10: 15.4% (2007)

Distribution of family income gini index: 46.8 (2013 est.)
Rank: 29

Budget
Revenues: 593.4 million (2017 est.)
Expenditures: 600.7 million (2017 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 63

Taxes and other revenues: 39.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Rank: 44

Public debt:
Rank: 65

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices:
Rank: 132

Central bank discount rate: 11.17% (31 December 2010)
Rank: 17

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Rank: 67

Stock of narrow money:
Rank: 165

Stock of broad money:
Rank: 169

Stock of domestic credit:
Rank: 173

Market value of publicly traded shares: NA

Current account balance:
Rank: 106

Exports:
Rank: 173
Partners: UAE 28.5%, France 24%, UK 13.8%, Italy 8.9%, Germany 4.6% (2017)
Commodities: canned tuna, frozen fish, petroleum products (reexports)

Imports:
Rank: 180
Commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals, other manufactured goods
Partners: UAE 13.4%, France 9.4%, Spain 5.7%, South Africa 5% (2017)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Rank: 149

Debt external:
Rank: 148

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Access electrification total population: 100% (2016)
Production: 350 million kWh (2016 est.)
Production rank: 175
Consumption: 325.5 million kWh (2016 est.)
Consumption rank: 182
Exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Exports rank: 196
Imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Imports rank: 198
Installed generating capacity: 88,000 kW (2016 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 181
Generation sources fossil fuels: 91% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 56
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 181
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 199
Generation sources other renewable sources: 9% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 83

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 198
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 191
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 193
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 193

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products production rank: 199
Products consumption: 7,300 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Products consumption rank: 166
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports rank: 200
Products imports: 7,225 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports rank: 155

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Production rank: 194
Consumption: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Consumption rank: 196
Exports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Exports rank: 182
Imports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Imports rank: 187
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2014 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 192

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 1.15 million Mt (2017 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 165

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 19,652
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (2017 est.)
Fixed lines rank: 180
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 167,282
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 178 (2017 est.)
Mobile cellular rank: 186

Telephone system
General assessment: effective system; radiotelephone communications between islands in the archipelago (2018)
Domestic: fixed-line 21 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity is 178 telephones per 100 persons (2018)
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)

Broadcast media: 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)

Internet
Country code: .sc
Users total: 52,664
Users percent of population: 56.5% (July 2016 est.)
Users rank: 192

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 15,221
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2017 est.)
Rank: 161

Military expenditures:
Rank: 80

Military and security forces: Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF): Army (includes infantry, Special Forces (Tazar), and Presidential Security Unit), Coast Guard, and Air Force (2019)

Military service age and obligation: 18-28 years of age for voluntary military service (18-25 for officers); 6-year initial commitment; no conscription (2019)

National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 1 (2015)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 3 (2015)
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 497,496 (2015)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 19,234,992
Note: mt-km (2015)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: S7 (2016)

Airports: 14 (2013)
Rank: 150
With paved runways total: 7 (2017)
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1 (2017)
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 5 (2017)
With paved runways under 914 m: 1 (2017)
With unpaved runways total: 7 (2013)
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 2 (2013)
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 5 (2013)

Heliports: 1 (2013)

Roadways
Total: 526 km (2015)
Paved: 514 km (2015)
Unpaved: 12 km (2015)
Rank: 189

Merchant marine
Total: 24
By type: general cargo 4, oil tanker 6, other 14 (2018)
Rank: 134

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Victoria

Disputes international: Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islands (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory)