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  Seychelles  
Flag of Seychelles
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  Introduction
  Geography
  People
  Government
  Economy
  Communications
  Transportation
  Military
  Transnational Issues

In general, information available as of 1 January 2003
was used in the preparation of The World Factbook 2003.


This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003


Map of Seychelles

Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Seychelles
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. The most recent presidential elections were held 31 August-2 September 2001. President RENE, who has served since 1977, was re-elected.
   Geography    Seychelles
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Eastern Africa, group of islands 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
water: 0 sq km
land: 455 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
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: 2.22%
permanent crops: 13.33%
other: 84.45% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
NA sq km
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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands
   People    Seychelles
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
80,469 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 27.3% (male 11,116; female 10,844)
15-64 years: 66.5% (male 26,068; female 27,425)
65 years and over: 6.2% (male 1,654; female 3,362) (2003 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 26.9 years
male: 25.8 years
female: 27.9 years (2002)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
0.46% (2003 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
16.89 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6.49 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
-5.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 16.41 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 20.75 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 71.25 years
male: 65.78 years
female: 76.88 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.79 children born/woman (2003 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 86.6%, Anglican 6.8%, other Christian 2.5%, other 4.1%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
English (official), French (official), Creole
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58%
male: 56%
female: 60% (1971 est.)
   Government    Seychelles
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles
conventional short form: Seychelles
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
Victoria
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 France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 31 August-2 September 2001 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: France Albert RENE reelected president; percent of vote - France Albert RENE (SPPF) 54.19%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (UO) 44.95%, Philippe BOULLE 0.86%; note - the first time that presidential elections have been held separately from legislative elections
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
head of government: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
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 held by 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - SPPF 54.3%, SNP 42.6%, DP 3.1%; seats by party - SPPF 23, SNP 11
note: the 9 awarded seats are apportioned according to the percentage that each party won of the total vote
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, Daniel BELLE]; Mouvement Seychellois pour la Democratie [Jacques HODOUL]; Seychelles National Party or SNP (formerly the United Opposition or UO) [Wavel RAMKALAWAN]; 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, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Claude Sylvestre MOREL
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York, NY 10017
FAX: [1] (212) 972-1786
telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
the US does not have an embassy in Seychelles; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to the 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
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. A sharp drop 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. Other issues facing the government are the curbing of the budget deficit, including the containment of social welfare costs, and further privatization of public enterprises. Growth slowed in 1998-2002, due to sluggish tourist and tuna sectors. Also, 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 should remain sluggish as vacationers seek cheaper destinations such as Comoros, Mauritius, and Madagascar.
GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $626 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.5% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
purchasing power parity - $7,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 2.4%
industry: 24.4%
services: 73.2% (2000)
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
0.5% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
30,900 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
industry 19%, services 71%, agriculture 10% (1989)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA%
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $249 million
expenditures: $262 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)
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
160 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source:
Definition Field Listing
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
148.8 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA (2001)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), bananas; broiler chickens; tuna fish
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$235 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
canned tuna, frozen fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (reexports)
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
UK 28.6%, France 20%, Italy 8.7%, US 8.4%, Spain 6.7%, Japan 6.7%, Netherlands 6.6%, Thailand 6.4% (2002)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$380 million f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Saudi Arabia 15.6%, France 12.8%, Spain 9.9%, Italy 9.7%, South Africa 8.4%, Singapore 7.3%, UK 6.1%, Taiwan 4.2% (2002)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$170 million (2002 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$16.4 million (1995)
Currency:
Definition Field Listing
Seychelles rupee (SCR)
Currency code:
Definition Field Listing
SCR
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Seychelles rupees per US dollar - 5.48 (2002), 5.86 (2001), 5.71 (2000), 5.34 (1999), 5.26 (1998)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Seychelles
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
19,635 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
16,316 (1999)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: effective system
domestic: radiotelephone communications between islands in the archipelago
international: 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 Service Providers (ISPs):
Definition Field Listing
1 (2000)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9,000 (2002)
   Transportation    Seychelles
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 km
Highways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 373 km
paved: 315 km
unpaved: 58 km (1997 est.)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing
none
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
Victoria
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing
total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 37,281 GRT/55,702 DWT
ships by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 1, container 1
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: South Africa 2 (2002 est.)
Airports:
Definition Field Listing
14 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2002)
   Military    Seychelles
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Army, Coast Guard (includes Air Wing), Presidential Protection Unit (includes Presidential Guard), Police Force (includes Police Mobile Unit, a special weapons and tactics unit capable of assisting the Army in maintaining internal stability)
Military manpower - availability:
Definition Field Listing
males age 15-49: 23,444 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 15-49: 11,639 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$12.8 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.8% (FY02)
   Transnational Issues    Seychelles
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory)

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003


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