Seychelles - SC - SYC - SEY - Africa

Last updated: May 01, 2025

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Seychelles Factbook Data

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Henry V. JARDINE (since 22 February 2023) and Chargé d’Affaires Adham LOUTFI (since 6 October 2023); note - Ambassador JARDINE is posted in Mauritius and is accredited to Seychelles, and Chargé d’Affaires LOUTFI is posted in Victoria, 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

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)

This is the population pyramid for Seychelles. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.

For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page.

Geographic coordinates

4 35 S, 55 40 E

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.)

Natural hazards

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

Area - comparative

2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Military service age and obligation

18-28 (18-25 for officers) years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; 6-year initial commitment; no conscription (2023)

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.

Environment - current issues

water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater; water pollution; biodiversity maintainance

Environment - international 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

Military expenditures

1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
1.3% of GDP (2019 est.)

Population below poverty line

25.3% (2018 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

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

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

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 Persévérance I, Ile Persévérance II, La Digue, La Rivière Anglaise, Les Mamelles, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe Larue, Port Glaud, Roche Caiman, Saint Louis, Takamaka

Agricultural products

coconuts, vegetables, bananas, eggs, chicken, pork, fruits, tomatoes, tropical fruits, cassava (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Military and security forces

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 (includes regular police, an armed paramilitary Police Special Support Wing, and the Marine Police Unit) (2024)

Budget

revenues: $431.07 million (2020 est.)

expenditures: $611.548 million (2020 est.)

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, fish, ships, cars, plastic products (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Climate

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

Coastline

491 km

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

Exchange rates

Seychelles rupees (SCR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
14.018 (2023 est.)
14.273 (2022 est.)
16.921 (2021 est.)
17.617 (2020 est.)
14.033 (2019 est.)

Executive branch

chief of state: President Wavel RAMKALAWAN (since 26 October 2020)

head of government: President Wavel RAMKALAWAN (since 26 October 2020)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 22 to 24 October 2020 (next to be held in 2025)

election results:
2020: Wavel RAMKALAWAN elected president; Wavel RAMKALAWAN (LDS) 54.9%, Danny FAURE (US) 43.5%, other 1.6%

2015: President James Alix MICHEL reelected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - James Alix MICHEL (PL) 47.8%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (SNP) 35.3%, other 16.9%; percent of vote in second round - James Alix MICHEL 50.2%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN 49.8%

note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

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, and green the land and natural environment

Independence

29 June 1976 (from the UK)

Industries

fishing, tourism, beverages

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

Land boundaries

total: 0 km

Land use

agricultural land: 3.4% (2022 est.)

arable land: 0.3% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 3% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)

forest: 73.3% (2022 est.)

other: 23.4% (2022 est.)

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

legislature name: National Assembly

legislative structure: unicameral

number of seats: 35 (all directly elected)

electoral system: mixed system

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 5 years

most recent election date: 10/22/2020 to 10/24/2020

parties elected and seats per party: Seychelles Democratic Alliance (Linyon Demokratik Seselwa, LDS) (25); United Seychelles (US) (10)

percentage of women in chamber: 28.6%

expected date of next election: September 2025

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 95.9%

male: 95.4%

female: 96.4% (2018)

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

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

National holiday

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

Nationality

noun: Seychellois (singular and plural)

adjective: Seychellois

Natural resources

fish, coconuts (copra), cinnamon trees

Geography - note

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

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

Political parties

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telecommunication systems

general assessment: effective system; direct international calls to over 100 countries; radiotelephone communications between islands in the archipelago; 3 ISPs; use of Internet cafes' for access to Internet; 4G services and 5G pending (2020)

domestic: fixed-line is 18 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity is 173 telephones per 100 persons (2021)

international: country code - 248; landing points for the PEACE and the SEAS submarine cables providing connectivity to Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia; direct radiotelephone communications with adjacent island countries and African coastal countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019)

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

Government type

presidential republic

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 SÉCHELLES, the finance minister of France, in 1756; the British changed the spelling of the name in 1815 when they acquired the islands

Location

archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar

Map references

Africa

Irrigated land

3 sq km (2012)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Ian Dereck Joseph MADELEINE (since 1 December 2021); 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)

Internet users

percent of population: 87% (2022 est.)

Internet country code

.sc

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.141 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Credit ratings

Fitch rating: B+ (2020)

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years

male: 13 years

female: 16 years (2021)

Urbanization

urban population: 58.8% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Broadcast media

the national broadcaster, Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), which is funded by taxpayer money, operates the only terrestrial TV station, which provides local programming and airs broadcasts from international services; a privately owned Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) channel also provides local programming multi-channel cable and satellite TV are available through 2 providers; the national broadcaster operates 1 AM and 1 FM radio station; there are 2 privately operated radio stations; transmissions of 2 international broadcasters are accessible in Victoria

(2019)

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 96.2% of population

unimproved:

urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 3.8% of population (2017 est.)

National anthem

name: "Koste Seselwa" (Seychellois Unite)

lyrics/music: David Francois Marc ANDRE and George Charles Robert PAYET

note: adopted 1996

This is an audio of the National Anthem for Seychelles. The national anthem is generally a patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.

Major urban areas - population

28,000 VICTORIA (capital) (2018)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Physician density

2.25 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

Hospital bed density

3.6 beds/1,000 population (2011)

National symbol(s)

coco de mer (sea coconut); national colors: blue, yellow, red, white, green

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 73.8% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 21.3% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 16.1% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: 0% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 85.9% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -97.1% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

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.)

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

Population distribution

more than three-quarters of the population lives on the main island of Mahe; Praslin contains less than 10%; a smaller percent on La Digue and the outer islands as shown in this population distribution map

Electricity access

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

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 100% of population

unimproved:

urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

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.)

Languages

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

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

Elevation

highest point: Morne Seychellois 905 m

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Current health expenditure

5.3% of GDP (2021)

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 has close security ties with India (2024)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 500-1,000 personnel (2023)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the SDF's inventory primarily consists of Soviet-era equipment delivered in the 1970s and 1980s; in recent years, the SDF has received limited amounts of more modern equipment, mostly donations of patrol boats and aircraft, from several suppliers, including Bahrain, China, India, and the UAE (2024)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 3.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

agricultural: 900,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)

Total renewable water resources

0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 48,000 tons (2012 est.)

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 16.96 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 0.61 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 0.1 megatons (2020 est.)

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Aldabra Atoll; Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve

Coal

imports: 500 metric tons (2023 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.)

Petroleum

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

Gross reproduction rate

0.89 (2024 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

45% (2023 est.)

Remittances

0.53% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.53% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.64% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Ports

total ports: 1 (2024)

large: 0

medium: 0

small: 0

very small: 1

ports with oil terminals: 1

key ports: Victoria

Labor force

51,000 (2018 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 16.5% (2020 est.)

male: 17.5%

female: 15.6%

Net migration rate

0.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 38.7 years (2024 est.)

male: 38.2 years

female: 39.4 years

Maternal mortality ratio

3 deaths/100,000 live births (2020)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$682.794 million (2023 est.)
$638.961 million (2022 est.)
$702.585 million (2021 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Public debt

63.6% of GDP (2017 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Total fertility rate

1.81 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate

3% (2017 est.)
2.7% (2016 est.)

Population

total: 98,187 (2024 est.)

male: 50,973

female: 47,214

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.)

Area

total : 455 sq km

land: 455 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Taxes and other revenues

26.18% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$3.53 billion (2023 est.)
$3.421 billion (2022 est.)
$2.976 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

Airports

16 (2025)

Infant mortality rate

total: 10.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 12.8 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 7.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 165,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 192 (2022 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

32.1 (2018 est.)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-1.04% (2023 est.)
2.63% (2022 est.)
9.77% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

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

Real GDP per capita

$29,500 (2023 est.)
$28,500 (2022 est.)
$30,000 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 39,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2023 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 20.2% (2020 est.)

male: 34% (2020 est.)

female: 6.4% (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

14% (2016)

Energy consumption per capita

98.847 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Death rate

7 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Birth rate

11.8 births/1,000 population (2024 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.)

Merchant marine

total: 30 (2023)

by type: general cargo 6, oil tanker 6, other 18

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

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

Heliports

6 (2025)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 18,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2023 est.)

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.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.6 years (2024 est.)

male: 72.2 years

female: 81.1 years

Real GDP growth rate

3.16% (2023 est.)
14.98% (2022 est.)
0.55% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Industrial production growth rate

2.13% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 2.8% (2023 est.)

industry: 12% (2023 est.)

services: 68% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Revenue from forest resources

0.09% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Education expenditures

5.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Population growth rate

0.56% (2024 est.)

Sources: