Seychelles

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 39,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

state-run national broadcaster Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) has the only terrestrial TV station, which also airs broadcasts from international services; privately owned Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) channel; multi-channel cable and satellite TV available through 2 providers; SBC operates 1 AM and 1 FM radio station; 2 privately operated radio stations; transmissions of 2 international broadcasters available in Victoria (2019)

Internet country code

.sc

Internet users

percent of population: 87% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 18,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 165,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 192 (2022 est.)

Agricultural products

coconuts, vegetables, bananas, eggs, chicken, pork, fruits, tomatoes, tropical fruits, cassava (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Budget

revenues: $695.973 million (2023 est.) expenditures: $728.171 million (2023 est.) note: central government revenues and expenditures (excluding grants and social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Current account balance

-$155.194 million (2023 est.) -$141.648 million (2022 est.) -$160.168 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Economic overview

high-income Indian Ocean island economy; rapidly growing tourism sector; major tuna exporter; offshore financial hub; environmentally fragile and investing in ocean rise mitigation; recently discovered offshore oil potential; successful anticorruption efforts

Exchange rates

Seychelles rupees (SCR) per US dollar - 14.53 (2024 est.) 14.018 (2023 est.) 14.273 (2022 est.) 16.921 (2021 est.) 17.617 (2020 est.)

Exports

$2.375 billion (2023 est.) $2.247 billion (2022 est.) $1.751 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

fish, scrap iron, animal meal, broadcasting equipment, ships (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

France 20%, Mauritius 12%, UK 9%, Japan 8%, Italy 8% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.167 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 74.6% (2024 est.) government consumption: 26.3% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 17.2% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 85.2% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -103.2% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 2.5% (2024 est.) industry: 12.3% (2024 est.) services: 65.8% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

32.1 (2018 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.6% (2018 est.) highest 10%: 23.9% (2018 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

$2.437 billion (2023 est.) $2.298 billion (2022 est.) $1.821 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, fish, ships, cars, plastic products (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

UAE 32%, Spain 10%, France 6%, South Africa 6%, India 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

-6.4% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

fishing, tourism, beverages

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.3% (2024 est.) -1% (2023 est.) 2.6% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Population below poverty line

25.3% (2018 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

63.6% of GDP (2017 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$3.549 billion (2024 est.) $3.43 billion (2023 est.) $3.354 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

3.5% (2024 est.) 2.3% (2023 est.) 12.7% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

$29,200 (2024 est.) $28,600 (2023 est.) $28,000 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Remittances

0.5% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.5% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.6% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$773.678 million (2024 est.) $682.794 million (2023 est.) $638.961 million (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Taxes and other revenues

26.18% (of GDP) (2020 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Coal

imports: 500 metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 156,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 581.227 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 44.034 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 86.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 12.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

98.847 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption: 6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

893,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 92 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 893,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Climate

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

Environmental issues

limited freshwater resources; water pollution; biodiversity

International environmental agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Land use

agricultural land: 3.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 3% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 58.6% (2023 est.) other: 38% (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

17.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 9 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 3.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 900,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 58.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 48,000 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 24.4% (2022 est.)

Area

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

Area - comparative

2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

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

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

Geographic coordinates

4 35 S, 55 40 E

Geography - note

the smallest African country in terms of both area and population; the constitution of the Republic of Seychelles lists 155 islands, including 42 granitic and 113 coralline; the largest island by far is Mahe, which is home to about 90% of the population and is the site of the capital city of Victoria

Irrigated land

3 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total: 0 km

Land use

agricultural land: 3.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 3% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 58.6% (2023 est.) other: 38% (2023 est.)

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; occasional short droughts

Natural resources

fish, coconuts (copra), cinnamon trees

Population distribution

more than three quarters of the population lives on the main island of Mahe; Praslin is home to less than 10%, and a smaller percentage is on La Digue and the outer islands, as shown in this population distribution map

Terrain

Mahe Group is volcanic with a narrow coastal strip and rocky, hilly interior; others are relatively flat coral atolls, or elevated reefs; sits atop the submarine Mascarene Plateau

Administrative divisions

27 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, Ile Pers v rance I, Ile Pers v rance II, La Digue, La Rivi re Anglaise, Les Mamelles, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe Larue, Port Glaud, Roche Caiman, Saint Louis, Takamaka

Capital

name: Victoria geographic coordinates: 4 37 S, 55 27 E time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the British named the town Port Victoria in 1841 after Queen VICTORIA; the name was later shortened

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Seychelles dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Constitution

history: previous 1970, 1979; latest drafted May 1993, approved by referendum 18 June 1993, effective 23 June 1993 amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the National Assembly; passage of amendments affecting the country s sovereignty, symbols and languages, the supremacy of the constitution, fundamental rights and freedoms, amendment procedures, and dissolution of the Assembly also requires approval by at least 60% of voters in a referendum

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles conventional short form: Seychelles local long form: Republic of Seychelles local short form: Seychelles etymology: named by French Captain Corneille Nicholas MORPHEY after Jean Moreau de S CHELLES, the finance minister of France, in 1756; the British changed the spelling of the name in 1815 when they acquired the islands

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Henry V. JARDINE (since 22 February 2023) and Charg d Affaires Adham LOUTFI (since 6 October 2023); note - Ambassador JARDINE is posted in Mauritius and is accredited to Seychelles, and Charg d Affaires LOUTFI is posted in Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles embassy: 2nd Floor, Oliaji Trade Center, Victoria Mahe, Seychelles; note - US Embassy in Seychelles reopened on 1 June 2023 after having been closed in 1996 telephone: [248] 422 5256 email address and website: USEmbassySeychelles@state.gov https://sc.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Vivianne FOCK TAVE (since 16 December 2025); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN chancery: 685 Third Avenue, Suite 1107, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785 FAX: [1] (212) 972-1786 email address and website: seychellesmission@sycun.org Foreign Affairs Department Republic of Seychelles United States of America (mfa.gov.sc)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Patrick HERMINIE (since 26 October 2025) head of government: President Patrick HERMINIE (since 26 October 2025) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term) most recent election date: 9 October 2025 election results: 2025 : Patrick HERMINIE elected president; Patrick HERMINIE (US) 52.7%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (LDS) 47.3% expected date of next election: 2030 note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

Flag

description: five expanding bands of blue, yellow, red, white, and green, radiating from the bottom left corner meaning: the bands symbolize a dynamic new country moving into the future; blue stands for the sky and sea, yellow for the sun giving light and life, red for the people's determination to work for the future in unity and love, white for social justice and harmony, and green for the land and natural environment

Government type

presidential republic

Independence

29 June 1976 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

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 puisne 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 Authority, 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 serve until retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: Magistrates' Courts of Seychelles; Family Tribunal for issues such as domestic violence, child custody, and maintenance; Employment Tribunal for labor-related disputes

Legal system

mixed system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law

Legislative branch

legislature name: National Assembly legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 34 (all directly elected) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 9/27/2025 parties elected and seats per party: United Seychelles (US) (19); Seychelles Democratic Alliance (Linyon Demokratik Seselwa, LDS) (15) percentage of women in chamber: 26.5% expected date of next election: September 2030

National anthem(s)

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

National color(s)

blue, yellow, red, white, green

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Aldabra Atoll ; Vall e de Mai Nature Reserve

National holiday

Constitution Day, 18 June (1993); Independence Day (National Day), 29 June (1976)

National symbol(s)

coco de mer (sea coconut)

Political parties

Seychelles Party for Social Justice and Democracy or SPSJD Seychellois Democratic Alliance or LDS (Linyon Demokratik Seselwa/Union D mocratique Seychelloise) Seychelles National Party or SNP United Seychelles or US

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

Seychelles was uninhabited before Europeans discovered the islands early in the 16th century. After a lengthy struggle, France eventually ceded control of the islands to Great Britain in 1814. During colonial rule, a plantation-based economy developed that relied on imported labor, primarily from European colonies in Africa. Seychelles gained independence in 1976 through negotiations with Great Britain. In 1977, Prime Minister France-Albert RENE launched a coup against the country s first president, and Seychelles became a socialist one-party state until adopting a new constitution and holding elections in 1993. RENE continued to lead Seychelles through two election cycles until he stepped down in 2004. Vice President James Alix MICHEL took over the presidency and in 2006 was elected to a new five-year term; he was reelected in 2011 and again in 2015. In 2016, James MICHEL resigned and handed over the presidency to his vice-president, Danny FAURE. In 2020, Wavel RAMKALAWAN was elected president, the first time an opposition candidate has won the presidency.

Military - note

formed in 1977, the SDF is one of the World's smallest militaries; its primary responsibility is maritime security, including countering illegal fishing, piracy, and drug smuggling; it was given police powers in 2022; the Seychelles maintains close security ties with India, which has provided support to the SDF's maritime security operations (2025)

Military and security forces

Seychelles People's Defense Forces (SPDF; aka Seychelles Defense Forces, SDF): Army (includes infantry, special forces, and a presidential security unit), Coast Guard, and Air Force Ministry of Internal Affairs: Seychelles Police Force (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 500 active Defense Forces (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the SDF is lightly armed; its inventory consists of obsolescent armaments delivered in the 1970s and 1980s and some more recently donated equipment from Bahrain, China, India, and UAE (2025)

Military expenditures

1.5% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-35 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2026)

Age structure

0-14 years: 17.7% (male 8,912/female 8,439) 15-64 years: 72.4% (male 37,841/female 33,210) 65 years and over: 10% (2024 est.) (male 4,220/female 5,565)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 9.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 4.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.49 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 4.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

11.59 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

44.6% (2022 est.)

Death rate

7.02 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 38.2 (2024 est.) youth dependency ratio: 24.4 (2024 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 13.8 (2024 est.) potential support ratio: 7.3 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

total: 96.4% of population (2022 est.) total: 3.6% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

4.5% of GDP (2023 est.) 10.7% national budget (2025 est.)

Ethnic groups

predominantly Creole (mainly of East African and Malagasy heritage); also French, Indian, Chinese, and Arab populations

Gross reproduction rate

0.89 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

5.3% of GDP (2021) 10.2% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

3.2 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 10 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 12.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 7.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Seychellois Creole (official) 89.1%, English (official) 5.1%, French (official) 0.7%, other 3.8%, unspecified 1.4% (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.6 years (2024 est.) male: 72.2 years female: 81.1 years

Major urban areas - population

28,000 VICTORIA (capital) (2018)

Maternal mortality ratio

42 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

total: 39.2 years (2025 est.) male: 38.2 years female: 39.4 years

Nationality

noun: Seychellois (singular and plural) adjective: Seychellois

Net migration rate

0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

14% (2016)

Physician density

2.25 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

Population

total: 98,187 (2024 est.) male: 50,973 female: 47,214

Population distribution

more than three quarters of the population lives on the main island of Mahe; Praslin is home to less than 10%, and a smaller percentage is on La Digue and the outer islands, as shown in this population distribution map

Population growth rate

0.53% (2025 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 10.5% (Anglican 6.1%, Pentecostal Assembly 1.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.2%, other Protestant 1.7%), other Christian 2.4%, Hindu 2.4%, Muslim 1.6%, other non-Christian 1.1%, unspecified 4.8%, none 0.9% (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access

total: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years (2023 est.) male: 13 years (2023 est.) female: 15 years (2023 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.14 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 20.5% (2025 est.) male: 34.2% (2025 est.) female: 5.2% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.8 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 58.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Airports

16 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

S7

Heliports

6 (2025)

Merchant marine

total: 30 (2023) by type: general cargo 6, oil tanker 6, other 18

Ports

total ports: 1 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 0 very small: 1 ports with oil terminals: 1 key ports: Victoria