Seychelles

Seychelles

Introduction

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. 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

Location

archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar

Geographic coordinates

4 35 S, 55 40 E

Map references

Africa

Area

total: 455 sq km
country comparison to the world: 198 land:455 sq km
water:0 sq km

Area – comparative

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

491 km

Maritime claims

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

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

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point:Morne Seychellois 905 m

Natural resources

fish, copra, cinnamon trees

Land use

arable land: 2.17%
permanent crops:13.04%
other:84.79% (2005)

Irrigated land

3 sq km (2008)

Natural hazards

lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare

short droughts possible

Environment – current issues

water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater

Environment – 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
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements

Geography – note

41 granitic and about 75 coralline islands

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Seychellois (singular and plural)
adjective:Seychellois

Ethnic groups

mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab

Languages

Creole 91.8%, English (official) 4.9%, other 3.1%, unspecified 0.2% (2002 census)

Religions

Roman Catholic 82.3%, Protestant 7.5% (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)

Population

89,188 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196

Age structure

0-14 years: 21.9% (male 9,987/female 9,501)
15-64 years:71% (male 33,044/female 30,277)
65 years and over:7.2% (male 2,399/female 3,980) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 32.5 years
male:32 years
female:33 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

0.945% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119

Birth rate

15.33 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133

Death rate

6.91 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138

Net migration rate

1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53

Urbanization

urban population: 55% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:1.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

VICTORIA (capital) 26,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.031 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.6 male(s)/female
total population:1.03 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 11.66 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 137 male:14.62 deaths/1,000 live births
female:8.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.52 years
country comparison to the world: 115 male:68.87 years
female:78.32 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.91 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136

Health expenditures

4% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 160

Physicians density

1.51 physicians/1,000 population (2004)
country comparison to the world: 78

Hospital bed density

3.94 beds/1,000 population (2009)
country comparison to the world: 52

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

HIV/AIDS – deaths

NA

Obesity – adult prevalence rate

25.1% (2004)
country comparison to the world: 11

Education expenditures

5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 56

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:91.8%
male:91.4%
female:92.3% (2002 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years
male:13 years
female:14 years (2008)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 20.3% (2002)
country comparison to the world: 54

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles
conventional short form:Seychelles
local long form:Republic of Seychelles
local short form:Seychelles

Government type

republic

Capital

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

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

29 June 1976 (from the UK)

National holiday

Constitution Day (National Day), 18 June (1993)

Constitution

18 June 1993

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

Suffrage

17 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President James Alix MICHEL (since 14 April 2004)

note – the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:President James Alix MICHEL (since 14 April 2004)
cabinet:Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for two more terms)

election last held on 19-21 May 2011 (next to be held in 2016)
election results:President James MICHEL elected president

percent of vote – James MICHEL 55.5%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN 41.4%, Philippe BOULLE 1.7%, Ralph VOLCERE 1.5%

note – this was the second 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

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (34 seats

25 members elected by popular vote, 9 allocated on a proportional basis to parties winning at least 10% of the vote

members to serve five-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%, independents 0.6%

seats by party – PL 31, vacant – 3

note – the ruling SPPF changed its name to People’s Party (Party Lepep) in June 2009

the SNP and NDP boycotted the 2011 elections

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal

Supreme Court

judges for both courts are appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party or DP [James MANCHAM, Paul CHOW]

New Democratic Party or NDP

People’s Party (Parti Lepep) or PL [France Albert RENE]

Popular Democratic Movement or PDM

Seychelles National Party or SNP [Wavel RAMKALAWAN] (formerly the United Opposition or UO)

Political pressure groups and leaders

Roman Catholic Church
other:trade unions

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, 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

chief of mission: Ambassador Jean Ronald JUMEAU
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

the US does not have an embassy in Seychelles

the 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, green the land and natural environment

National anthem

name: “Koste Seselwa” (Seychellois Unite)
lyrics/music:David Francois Marc ANDRE and George Charles Robert PAYET
note:adopted 1996

Economy

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 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. GDP grew about 7-8% per year in 2006-07, driven by tourism and a boom in tourism-related construction. The Seychelles rupee was allowed to depreciate in 2006 after being overvalued for years and fell by 10% in the first 9 months of 2007. Despite these actions, the Seychelles economy has struggled to maintain its gains and in 2008 suffered from food and oil price shocks, a foreign exchange shortage, high inflation, large financing gaps, and the global recession. In July 2008 the government defaulted on a Euro amortizing note worth roughly US$80 million, leading to a downgrading of Seychelles credit rating, but in October 2010 the EU approved a $2.9 million grant as part of a larger four-year program for Seychelles. In response to Seychelles successful implementation of tighter monetary and fiscal policies, the IMF upgraded Seychelles to a three-year extended fund facility (EFF) of $31 million in December 2009. In 2008, GDP fell more than 1% due to declining tourism, but the economy recovered in 2009-10 with a notable increase in tourist numbers for 2010.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.053 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185 $1.932 billion (2009 est.)
$1.919 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$936 million (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

6.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48 0.7% (2009 est.)
-1.3% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$23,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56 $22,100 (2009 est.)
$22,200 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 1.9%
industry:18.9%
services:79.1% (2010 est.)

Labor force

39,560 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 195

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 3%
industry:23%
services:74% (2006)

Unemployment rate

2% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14

Population below poverty line

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 4.7%
highest 10%:15.4%

Distribution of family income – Gini index

65.8 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 2

Investment (gross fixed)

29% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36

Budget

revenues: $339.7 million
expenditures:$314.9 million (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

36.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

2.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20

Public debt

53.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45 59.2% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-2.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2 31.8% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

11.17% (31 December 2010 est.)
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

12.703% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46 15.347% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$319.9 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167 $290.9 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$458.3 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175 $425.7 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$479 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166 $441.2 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Agriculture – products

coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), copra, bananas

poultry

tuna

Industries

fishing, tourism, processing of coconuts and vanilla, coir (coconut fiber) rope, boat building, printing, furniture

beverages

Industrial production growth rate

2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132

Electricity – production

260 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172

Electricity – consumption

241.8 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130

Oil – consumption

8,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159

Oil – exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207

Oil – imports

6,203 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186

Current account balance

-$420.1 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107 -$253.1 million (2009 est.)

Exports

$407.3 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173 $432.5 million (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

canned tuna, frozen fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (reexports)

Exports – partners

UK 19%, France 17.7%, Italy 11.1%, Japan 10.8%, Thailand 7% (2010)

Imports

$915.6 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175 $780.4 million (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals, other manufactured goods

Imports – partners

Saudi Arabia 21.1%, South Africa 8.4%, France 6.8%, Spain 6.6%, Singapore 6%, Italy 4.7% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$235.6 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160 $190.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$1.526 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146 $1.624 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

Seychelles rupees (SCR) per US dollar -
12.221 (2010)
13.61 (2009)
8 (2008)
6.5 (2007)
5.5 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

14 (2010)
country comparison to the world:150

Airports – with paved runways

total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:6
under 914 m:1 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 6
914 to 1,523 m:1
under 914 m:5 (2010)

Roadways

total: 508 km
country comparison to the world: 193 paved:490 km
unpaved:18 km (2008)

Merchant marine

total: 9
country comparison to the world: 119 by type:cargo 1, carrier 1, chemical tanker 6, petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned:3 (Hong Kong 1, Nigeria 1, South Africa 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Victoria

Military

Military branches

Seychelles Defense Force: Army, Coast Guard (includes Naval Wing, Air Wing), National Guard (2005)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service (younger with parental consent)

no conscription (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 26,257
females age 16-49:23,996 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 20,231
females age 16-49:19,891 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 686
female:650 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

2% of GDP (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

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