Seychelles

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: 187

Internet users

32,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 179

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)

Telephones - main lines in use

22,100 (2009) country comparison to the world: 188

Telephones - mobile cellular

92,300 (2009) country comparison to the world: 186

Agriculture - products

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

Central bank discount rate

NA% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 84 5.13% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15.35% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 77 11.81% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$351 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 104 -$284.2 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$1.374 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 145 $1.321 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

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 exteneded 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.

Electricity - consumption

232.5 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 173

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

250 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Exchange rates

Seychelles rupees (SCR) per US dollar - 12.221 (2010), 13.6124 (2009), 8 (2008), 6.5 (2007), 5.5 (2006)

Exports

$464 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 168 $432.5 million (2009 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)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$919 million (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.908 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 185 $1.843 billion (2009 est.) $1.83 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 2.9% industry: 30.8% services: 66.2% (2009 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$21,600 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 61 $21,100 (2009 est.) $21,100 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 100 0.7% (2009 est.) -1.3% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$831 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 176 $759.1 million (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

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)

Industrial production growth rate

2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-2.2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 2 31.8% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

36.2% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 6

Labor force

39,560 (2006) country comparison to the world: 197

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

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 - production

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 136

Oil - consumption

7,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 158

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 175

Oil - imports

7,653 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 145

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

58.8% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 37 58.7% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$193 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 128 $190.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$415 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 175 $352 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$678.5 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 159 $582.5 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$274.2 million (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 168 $240.5 million (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

2% (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 13

Area

total: 455 sq km country comparison to the world: 197 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, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

4 35 S, 55 40 E

Geography - note

41 granitic and about 75 coralline islands

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

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

Location

archipelago 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

name: Victoria geographic coordinates: 4 38 S, 55 27 E time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

18 June 1993

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

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

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 theWorld 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

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

Government type

republic

Independence

29 June 1976 (from the UK)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (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; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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

National anthem

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

National holiday

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

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

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. 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.

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 branches

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

Military expenditures

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

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service (younger with parental consent); no conscription (2010)

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.)

Birth rate

15.53 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

Death rate

6.92 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

Education expenditures

5% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 69

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: 11.97 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 140 male: 15.02 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.28 years country comparison to the world: 115 male: 68.6 years female: 78.09 years (2010 est.)

Literacy

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

Median age

total: 32 years male: 31.5 years female: 32.5 years (2010 est.)

Nationality

noun: Seychellois (singular and plural) adjective: Seychellois

Net migration rate

1.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 56

Population

88,340 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 196

Population growth rate

0.966% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

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)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years male: 14 years female: 16 years (2008)

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 (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.92 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Urbanization

urban population: 54% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Disputes - international

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

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)

Merchant marine

total: 9 country comparison to the world: 120 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

Roadways

total: 458 km country comparison to the world: 195 paved: 440 km unpaved: 18 km (2003)