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  Seychelles  
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This page was last updated on 8 March, 2007


Map of Seychelles



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Seychelles Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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.
   Geography    Seychelles Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
4 35 S, 55 40 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Africa
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 455 sq km
land: 455 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
491 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
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
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May)
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
Mahe Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky, hilly; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morne Seychellois 905 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
fish, copra, cinnamon trees
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 2.17%
permanent crops: 13.04%
other: 84.79% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; short droughts possible
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
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
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
41 granitic and about 75 coralline islands
   People    Seychelles Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
81,541 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 25.9% (male 10,667/female 10,440)
15-64 years: 68% (male 27,060/female 28,366)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 1,607/female 3,401) (2006 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 28.1 years
male: 27 years
female: 29.1 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
0.43% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
16.03 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6.29 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
-5.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.47 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 15.14 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 19.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 72.08 years
male: 66.69 years
female: 77.63 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.74 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Seychellois (singular and plural)
adjective: Seychellois
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
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)
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Creole 91.8%, English 4.9% (official), other 3.1%, unspecified 0.2% (2002 census)
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.9%
male: 91.4%
female: 92.3% (2003 est.)
   Government    Seychelles Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles
conventional short form: Seychelles
local long form: Republic of Seychelles
local short form: Seychelles
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
name: Victoria
geographic coordinates: 4 38 S, 55 27 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
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
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
29 June 1976 (from UK)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Constitution Day (National Day), 18 June (1993)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
18 June 1993
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
17 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President James 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
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (34 seats - 25 elected by popular vote, 9 allocated on a proportional basis to parties winning at least 10% of the vote; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 4-6 December 2002 (next to be held in December 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - SPPF 54.3%, SNP 42.6%, DP 3.1%; seats by party - SPPF 23, SNP 11
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Court of Appeal; Supreme Court; judges for both courts are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Democratic Party or DP [James MANCHAM, Paul CHOW]; Seychelles National Party or SNP [Wavel RAMKALAWAN] (formerly the United Opposition or UO); Seychelles People's Progressive Front or SPPF [France Albert RENE, James MICHEL] (the governing party)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Roman Catholic Church; trade unions
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
ACCT, 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, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Jeremie BONNELAME
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785
FAX: [1] (212) 972-1786
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
the US does not have an embassy in Seychelles; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Seychelles
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, and green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side
   Economy    Seychelles Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
Since independence in 1976, per capita output in this Indian Ocean archipelago has expanded to roughly seven times the old near-subsistence level. 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 in order 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. Sharp drops illustrated the vulnerability of the tourist sector in 1991-92 due largely to the Gulf War, and once again following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the US. Growth slowed in 1998-2002, and fell in 2003, due to sluggish tourist and tuna sectors, but resumed in 2004. Growth turned negative again in 2005-06. Tight controls on exchange rates and the scarcity of foreign exchange have impaired short-term economic prospects. The black-market value of the Seychelles rupee is half the official exchange rate; without a devaluation of the currency, the tourist sector may remain sluggish as vacationers seek cheaper destinations such as Comoros, Mauritius, and Madagascar.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$626 million (2002 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$712 million (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
-1% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$7,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 3.2%
industry: 30.1%
services: 66.7% (2006 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
30,900 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 10%
industry: 19%
services: 71% (1989)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA%
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.7% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
44.2% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $371.1 million
expenditures: $376 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)
Public debt:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
166.1% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), bananas; poultry; tuna
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
fishing, tourism, processing of coconuts and vanilla, coir (coconut fiber) rope, boat building, printing, furniture; beverages
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA%
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
208 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
193.4 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5,600 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$-78.59 million (2006 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$365.1 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
canned tuna, frozen fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (reexports)
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
UK 23.2%, Spain 20%, France 11.5%, Japan 9.8%, Italy 7.5%, Germany 5.8%, Netherlands 5.4% (2005)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$570.6 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Saudi Arabia 15.3%, South Africa 13.9%, Spain 13.7%, France 7.2%, Singapore 6.9%, Italy 5.7% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$44.78 million (2006 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$616.7 million (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$16.4 million (1995)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
Seychelles rupee (SCR)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Seychelles rupees per US dollar - 5.5 (2006), 5.5 (2005), 5.5 (2004), 5.4007 (2003), 5.48 (2002)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Seychelles Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
21,400 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
57,000 (2005)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: effective system
domestic: 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)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 2 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
2 (plus 9 repeaters) (1997)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.sc
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
72 (2006)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
20,000 (2005)
   Transportation    Seychelles Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
15 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2006)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 458 km
paved: 440 km
unpaved: 18 km (2003)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 5 ships (1000 GRT or over) 69,777 GRT/113,501 DWT
by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 4
foreign-owned: 1 (Nigeria 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Victoria
   Military    Seychelles Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Seychelles Defense Force: Army, Coast Guard (includes Navy Wing, Air Wing), National Guard (2005)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 21,612
females age 18-49: 22,459 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 16,122
females age 18-49: 18,777 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2% (2006 est.)
   Transnational Issues    Seychelles Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
together with Mauritius, Seychelles claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory)

This page was last updated on 8 March, 2007


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