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Introduction - Seychelles
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 - Seychelles
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:
Current Weather
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:
NA
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 - Seychelles
Population:
87,476 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.8% (male 10,201/female 9,732)
15-64 years: 70.1% (male 31,870/female 29,439)
65 years and over: 7.1% (male 2,321/female 3,913) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 32 years
male: 31.5 years
female: 32.5 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.999% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Birth rate:
15.87 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Death rate:
6.93 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Net migration rate:
1.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Urbanization:
urban population: 54% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.032 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 (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 12.3 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 142
male: 15.44 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.02 years
country comparison to the world: 115
male: 68.33 years
female: 77.85 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.92 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Seychellois (singular and plural)
adjective: Seychellois
Ethnic groups:
mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab
Religions:
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:
Creole 91.8%, English 4.9% (official), other 3.1%, unspecified 0.2% (2002
census)
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: 14 years
female: 15 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
6.5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 31
Government - Seychelles
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:
based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ 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 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 28-30 July 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: President James MICHEL elected president; percent of vote -
James MICHEL 53.7%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN 45.7%, Philippe BOULLE 0.6%; 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:
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 10-12 May 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - SPPF 56.2%, SNP 43.8%; seats by
party - SPPF 23, SNP 11
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]; People's Party (Parti Lepep)
or PL [France Albert RENE, James MICHEL] (the governing party); 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, ICCt (signatory),
ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent),
ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WFTU, 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
Economy - Seychelles
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. Seychelles requested an IMF Stand-By Agreement in December 2008. In
2009, GDP fell nearly 9% due to declining tourism.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.819 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
$1.885 billion (2008 est.)
$1.829 billion (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$767 million (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-3.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
3.1% (2008 est.)
7.3% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$20,800 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
$21,800 (2008 est.)
$21,300 (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.9%
industry: 30.8%
services: 66.2% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
39,560 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 196
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 23%
services: 74% (2006)
Unemployment rate:
2% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
28.3% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
Budget:
revenues: $288.7 million
expenditures: $267.9 million (2009 est.)
Public debt:
63.2% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
82.4% of GDP (2008 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
31.8% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 222
37% (2008 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 85
5.13% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
15.35% (31 December 2009 )
country comparison to the world: 78
11.81% (31 December 2008 )
Stock of money:
$173.1 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 148
$330.8 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$185.2 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 150
$249 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$375.6 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 124
$660.2 million (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), 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% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Electricity - production:
250 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Electricity - consumption:
232.5 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Oil - consumption:
7,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Oil - imports:
7,653 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
Current account balance:
-$170 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
-$395.8 million (2008 est.)
Exports:
$428 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
$502.3 million (2008 est.)
Exports - commodities:
canned tuna, frozen fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (reexports)
Exports - partners:
UK 24.84%, France 18.53%, Italy 9.45%, Mauritius 9.03%, Japan 6.98%, Spain 4.92%
(2009)
Imports:
$703 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
$1.008 billion (2008 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Saudi Arabia 16.44%, India 8.33%, Spain 7.49%, South Africa 6.72%, France 6.39%,
Brazil 6.07%, Singapore 5.07% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$197 million (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
$63.8 million (31 December 2008 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.25 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
$1.422 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Exchange rates:
Seychelles rupees (SCR) per US dollar - 14.2 (2009), 8 (2008), 6.5 (2007), 5.5
(2006), 5.5 (2005)
Communications - Seychelles
Telephones - main lines in use:
23,200 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 188
Telephones - mobile cellular:
85,300 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 184
Telephone system:
general assessment: effective system
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is 130 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)
Broadcast media:
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 via subscription; the government operates 1 AM
and 1 FM radio station; transmissions of 2 international broadcasters are
accessible in Victoria (2007)
Internet country code:
.sc
Internet hosts:
256 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 188
Internet users:
32,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 179
Transportation - Seychelles
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: 458 km
country comparison to the world: 195
paved: 440 km
unpaved: 18 km (2003)
Merchant marine:
total: 9
country comparison to the world: 121
by type: cargo 1, carrier 1, chemical tanker 6, petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 3 (Hong Kong 1, Nigeria 1, South Africa 1)
Ports and terminals:
Victoria
Military - Seychelles
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: 26,040
females age 16-49: 23,961 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 19,989
females age 16-49: 19,882 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 704
female: 672 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2% of GDP (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Transnational Issues - Seychelles
Disputes - international:
together with Mauritius, Seychelles claims the Chagos Archipelago
(UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory)
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