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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. Single-party 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 reelected in 2001, but stepped down in 2004. Vice President James Alix MICHEL took over the presidency and in July 2006 was elected to a new five-year term; he was reelected in May 2011.
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Geography :: SEYCHELLES
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archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar
4 35 S, 55 40 E
Africa
total: 455 sq km
land: 455 sq km
water: 0 sq km
country comparison to the world:
1992.5 times the size of Washington, DC
0 km
491 km
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
tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May)
Mahe Group is volcanic with a narrow coastal strip and rocky, hilly interior; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morne Seychellois 905 m
fish, coconuts (copra), cinnamon trees
agricultural land: 6.5%
arable land 2.2%; permanent crops 4.3%; permanent pasture 0%
forest: 88.5%
other: 5% (2011 est.)
2.6 sq km (2003)
lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; occasional short droughts
water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater
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
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
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People and Society :: SEYCHELLES
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noun: Seychellois (singular and plural)
adjective: Seychellois
mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab
Seychellois Creole (official) 89.1%, English (official) 5.1%, French (official) 0.7%, other 3.8%, unspecified 1.4% (2010 est.)
Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 10.6% (Anglican 6.1%, Pentecoastal Assembly 1.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.2%, other Protestant 1.6), other Christian 2.4%, Hindu 2.4%, Muslim 1.6%, other non-Christian 1.1%, unspecified 4.8%, none 0.9% (2010 est.)
92,430 (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1990-14 years: 20.53% (male 9,731/female 9,243)
15-24 years: 13.92% (male 6,740/female 6,125)
25-54 years: 49.4% (male 24,076/female 21,586)
55-64 years: 8.74% (male 4,190/female 3,888)
65 years and over: 7.41% (male 2,670/female 4,181) (2015 est.)
population pyramid:
total dependency ratio: 43.5%
youth dependency ratio: 33.6%
elderly dependency ratio: 9.9%
potential support ratio: 10.1% (2015 est.)
total: 34.4 years
male: 33.9 years
female: 35 years (2015 est.)
0.83% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
13314.19 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1386.89 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1371 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
64urban population: 53.9% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 1.14% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
VICTORIA (capital) 26,000 (2014)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
total: 10.49 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.12 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
132total population: 74.49 years
male: 69.92 years
female: 79.2 years (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1171.87 children born/woman (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1434% of GDP (2013)
country comparison to the world:
1471.07 physicians/1,000 population (2012)
3.6 beds/1,000 population (2011)
improved:
urban: 95.7% of population
rural: 95.7% of population
total: 95.7% of population
unimproved:
urban: 4.3% of population
rural: 4.3% of population
total: 4.3% of population (2015 est.)
improved:
urban: 98.4% of population
rural: 98.4% of population
total: 98.4% of population
unimproved:
urban: 1.6% of population
rural: 1.6% of population
total: 1.6% of population (2015 est.)
NA
NA
NA
26.9% (2014)
country comparison to the world:
703.6% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world:
121definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.8%
male: 91.4%
female: 92.3% (2012 est.)
total: 13 years
male: 13 years
female: 13 years (2012)
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Government :: SEYCHELLES
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conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles
conventional short form: Seychelles
local long form: Republic of Seychelles
local short form: Seychelles
republic
name: Victoria
geographic coordinates: 4 37 S, 55 27 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
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
29 June 1976 (from the UK)
Constitution Day (National Day), 18 June (1993); Independence Day, 29 June (1976)
previous 1970, 1979; latest drafted May 1993, approved by referendum 18 June 1993, effective 23 June 1993; amended many times, last in 2011 (2011)
mixed legal system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: President James Alix MICHEL (since 14 April 2004); Vice President Danny FAURE (since 1 July 2010); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President James Alix MICHEL (since 14 April 2004); Vice President Danny FAURE (since 1 July 2010)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in two rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for 2 more terms); election last held on 19-21 May 2011 (next to be held in 2016)
election results: President James MICHEL reelected president; percent of vote - James MICHEL (PP) 55.5%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (SNP) 41.4%, Philippe BOULLE (independent) 1.7%, Ralph VOLCERE (DP) 1.5%
description: unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (34 seats; 25 members directly elected in single-member constituencies by simple majority vote and 9 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)
elections: last held on 29 September - 1 October 2011 (next to be held in 2016); note - the National Assembly was dissolved in July 2011 resulting in early elections
election results: percent of vote by party - PL 88.6%, PDM 10.9%, independent 0.6%; seats by party - PL 33, PDM 1; note - the SNP and NDP boycotted the 2011 elections
highest court(s): Seychelles Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 4 justices; Supreme Court of Seychelles (consists of the chief justice and 9 puisine 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 Committee, 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 appointed until retirement at age 70
subordinate courts: Magistrates' Courts of Seychelles; Family Tribunal for issues such as domestic violence, and child custody and maintenance; Employment Tribunal for labor related disputes
Independent Conservative Union of Seychelles or ICUS [Jona ALCINDOR]
People's Party (Parti Lepep) or PL [James Alix MICHEL]
Popular Democratic Movement or PDM [David PIERRE]
Seychelles Freedom Party or SFP [Christopher GILL]
Seychelles National Party or SNP [Wavel RAMKALAWAN] (formerly the United Opposition or UO)
Seychelles United Party or SUP [Robert EMESTA]
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)
chief of mission: Ambassador Marie-Louise Cecile POTTER (since 6 September 2012)
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York, NY 10017 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785
FAX: [1] (212) 972-1786
the US does not have an embassy in Seychelles; the US Ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Seychelles
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, green the land and natural environment
coco de mer (sea coconut); national colors: blue, yellow, red, white, green
name: "Koste Seselwa" (Seychellois Unite)
lyrics/music: David Francois Marc ANDRE and George Charles Robert PAYET
note: adopted 1996
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Economy :: SEYCHELLES
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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 upper-middle-income group of countries. 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 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. In 2008, having depleted its foreign exchange reserves, Seychelles defaulted on interest payments due on a $230 million Eurobond, requested assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and immediately enacted a number of significant structural reforms, including liberalization of the exchange rate, reform of the public sector to include layoffs, and the selling of some state assets. In December 2013, the IMF declared that Seychelles had successfully transitioned to a market-based economy with full employment and a fiscal surplus.
$2.406 billion (2014 est.)
$2.337 billion (2013 est.)
$2.192 billion (2012 est.)
note: data are in 2014 US dollars
country comparison to the world:
191$1.42 billion (2014 est.)
2.9% (2014 est.)
6.6% (2013 est.)
6% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
78$25,600 (2014 est.)
$24,900 (2013 est.)
$23,300 (2012 est.)
note: data are in 2014 US dollars
country comparison to the world:
7015% of GDP (2014 est.)
22.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
11.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
113household consumption: 101%
government consumption: 10.2%
investment in fixed capital: 31.4%
investment in inventories: -5.1%
exports of goods and services: 42.1%
imports of goods and services: -79.6%
(2014 est.)
agriculture: 3%
industry: 14%
services: 83.1% (2014 est.)
coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (manioc, tapioca), copra, bananas; tuna
fishing, tourism, beverages
3% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
9639,560 (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world:
197agriculture: 3%
industry: 23%
services: 74% (2006)
3% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
13NA%
lowest 10%: 4.7%
highest 10%: 15.4% (2007)
revenues: $498.4 million
expenditures: $474.3 million (2014 est.)
33.8% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
701.6% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1764.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
65.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
49calendar year
1.4% (2014 est.)
4.3% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
7911.17% (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world:
1513% (31 December 2014 est.)
12.29% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
57$435.1 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$431.2 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
166$567.8 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$529.3 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
174$485.1 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$500.8 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
168$NA
-$319 million (2014 est.)
-$209.9 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
101$525.1 million (2014 est.)
$580.2 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
173canned tuna, frozen fish, petroleum products (reexports)
France 24.8%, UK 18.6%, Italy 11.9%, Japan 9.2%, Mauritius 6.2%, Spain 4.2% (2014)
$1.074 billion (2014 est.)
$994.2 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
178machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals, other manufactured goods
Saudi Arabia 23.6%, Spain 9.8%, France 5.2%, South Africa 4.6% (2014)
$496.6 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$425.9 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
148$2.099 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$2.049 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
146Seychelles rupees (SCR) per US dollar -
12.44 (2014 est.)
12.058 (2013 est.)
13.7 (2012 est.)
12.381 (2011 est.)
12.068 (2010 est.)
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Energy :: SEYCHELLES
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316 million kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
177293.9 million kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1810 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1930 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
19789,000 kW (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
176100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
310% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1750% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1970% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1210 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1270 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1770 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1180 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1840 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1916,800 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1580 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1276,805 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1410 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1880 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1910 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1740 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1270 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1891.304 million Mt (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
165
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Communications :: SEYCHELLES
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total subscriptions: 21,200
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
184total: 151,300
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 165 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
184general assessment: effective system
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 170 telephones per 100 persons; 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) (2011)
the government operates the only terrestrial TV station, which provides local programming and airs broadcasts from international services; multi-channel cable and satellite TV are available; the government operates 1 AM and 1 FM radio station; transmissions of 2 international broadcasters are accessible in Victoria (2007)
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 2 (2001)
2 (plus 9 repeaters) (1997)
.sc
total: 49,300
percent of population: 53.8% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
184
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Transportation :: SEYCHELLES
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14 (2013)
country comparison to the world:
150total: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 1 (2013)
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m:
5 (2013)
1 (2013)
total: 508 km
paved: 490 km
unpaved: 18 km (2010)
country comparison to the world:
195total: 9
by type: cargo 1, carrier 1, chemical tanker 6, petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 3 (Hong Kong 1, Nigeria 1, South Africa 1) (2010)
country comparison to the world:
117major seaport(s): Victoria
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Military :: SEYCHELLES
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Seychelles People's Defense Forces (SPDF): Army, Coast Guard (includes Naval Wing, Air Wing), National Guard (2015)
18 years of age for voluntary military service (younger with parental consent); no conscription (2012)
males age 16-49: 26,257
females age 16-49: 23,996 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 20,231
females age 16-49: 19,891 (2010 est.)
male: 686
female: 650 (2010 est.)
0.89% of GDP (2012)
0.82% of GDP (2011)
0.89% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world:
109
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Transnational Issues :: SEYCHELLES
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Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islands (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory)