Seychelles

Internet country code

.sc

Internet hosts

264 (2003)

Internet users

11,700 (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 2 (1998)

Telephone system

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)

Telephones - main lines in use

21,700 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

54,500 (2003)

Television broadcast stations

2 (plus 9 repeaters) (1997)

Agriculture - products

coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), bananas; broiler chickens; tuna fish

Budget

revenues: $338.7 million expenditures: $323.3 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.)

Currency

Seychelles rupee (SCR)

Currency code

SCR

Current account balance

$-73 million (2003)

Debt - external

$213 million (2003 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$16.4 million (1995)

Economy - overview

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.

Electricity - consumption

148.8 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

160 million kWh (2001)

Exchange rates

Seychelles rupees per US dollar - 5.4007 (2003), 5.48 (2002), 5.8575 (2001), 5.7138 (2000), 5.3426 (1999)

Exports

$250 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

UK 38.8%, France 31.8%, Italy 14.5%, Germany 7.5% (2003)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $626 million (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 2.8% industry: 28.7% services: 68.9% (2003)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $7,800 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.5% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports

$383.7 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals

Imports - partners

Saudi Arabia 15.7%, South Africa 10.9%, Spain 10.4%, France 9.7%, Italy 9.2%, Singapore 7%, UK 6.8% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate

NA

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.3% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

39.1% of GDP (2003)

Labor force

30,900 (1996)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 10%, industry 19%, services 71% (1989)

Oil - consumption

4,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Public debt

129.3% of GDP (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold

$66 million (2003)

Unemployment rate

NA

Area

total: 455 sq km land: 455 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May)

Coastline

491 km

Elevation extremes

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

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 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

4 35 S, 55 40 E

Geography - note

40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 2.22% permanent crops: 13.33% other: 84.45% (2001)

Location

Eastern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar

Map references

Africa

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

Natural hazards

lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; short droughts possible

Natural resources

fish, copra, cinnamon trees

Terrain

Mahe Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky, hilly; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs

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

Capital

Victoria

Constitution

18 June 1993

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US does not have an embassy in Seychelles; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to the Seychelles

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Claude Sylvestre MOREL chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785 FAX: [1] (212) 972-1786

Executive branch

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); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president 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 re-elected 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; France Albert RENE stepped down 14 April 2004 and Vice President James MICHEL was sworn in as president

Flag description

five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, and green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side

Government type

republic

Independence

29 June 1976 (from UK)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal; Supreme Court; judges for both courts are appointed by the president

Legal system

based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law

Legislative branch

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

National holiday

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

Political parties and leaders

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

Roman Catholic Church; trade unions

Suffrage

17 years of age; universal

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. The most recent presidential elections were held 31 August-2 September 2001. President RENE, who has served since 1977, was re-elected. On 14 April 2004 RENE stepped down and Vice President James MICHEL was sworn in as president.

Military branches

Army, Coast Guard (including Navy Wing, Air Wing), National Guard, Presidential Protection Unit (includes Presidential Guard), Seychelles National Police (includes Police Mobile Unit)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$11.6 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.8% (2003)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 23,661 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 11,712 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation

18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)

Age structure

0-14 years: 26.9% (male 10,987; female 10,717) 15-64 years: 66.9% (male 26,380; female 27,731) 65 years and over: 6.2% (male 1,638; female 3,379) (2004 est.)

Birth rate

16.55 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate

6.41 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups

mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

total: 15.97 deaths/1,000 live births male: 20.2 deaths/1,000 live births female: 11.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages

English (official), French (official), Creole

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 71.53 years male: 66.1 years female: 77.14 years (2004 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 58% male: 56% female: 60% (1971 est.)

Median age

total: 27.3 years male: 26.2 years female: 28.4 years (2004 est.)

Nationality

noun: Seychellois (singular and plural) adjective: Seychellois

Net migration rate

-5.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population

80,832 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate

0.45% (2004 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 86.6%, Anglican 6.8%, other Christian 2.5%, other 4.1%

Sex ratio

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 (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.77 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Disputes - international

together with Mauritius, Seychelles claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory)

Airports

15 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.)

Highways

total: 373 km paved: 315 km unpaved: 58 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 42,223 GRT/63,538 DWT by type: cargo 4, chemical tanker 3, container 1 foreign-owned: Bulgaria 1, Cyprus 1, Nigeria 1, South Africa 2 (2004 est.)

Ports and harbors

Victoria