Seychelles

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet country code

.sc

Internet users

9,000 (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: direct radiotelephone communications with adjacent island countries and African coastal countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

19,635 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

16,316 (1999)

Television broadcast stations

2 (plus 9 repeaters) (1997)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $249 million expenditures: $262 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

Currency

Seychelles rupee (SCR)

Currency code

SCR

Debt - external

$170 million (2002 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)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates

Seychelles rupees per US dollar - 5.48 (2002), 5.86 (2001), 5.71 (2000), 5.34 (1999), 5.26 (1998)

Exports

$235 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

UK 28.6%, France 20%, Italy 8.7%, US 8.4%, Spain 6.7%, Japan 6.7%, Netherlands 6.6%, Thailand 6.4% (2002)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

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

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 2.4% industry: 24.4% services: 73.2% (2000)

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

$380 million f.o.b. (2002)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals

Imports - partners

Saudi Arabia 15.6%, France 12.8%, Spain 9.9%, Italy 9.7%, South Africa 8.4%, Singapore 7.3%, UK 6.1%, Taiwan 4.2% (2002)

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)

0.5% (2002 est.)

Labor force

30,900 (1996)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Unemployment rate

NA%

Area

total: 455 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 455 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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

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% (1998 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

contiguous zone: 24 NM territorial sea: 12 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 FAX: [1] (212) 972-1786 telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785

Executive branch

chief of state: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government 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 reelected 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 cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president head of government: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977); note - the president is both the 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

Government type

republic

Independence

29 June 1976 (from UK)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, 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.

Military branches

Army, Coast Guard (includes Air Wing), Presidential Protection Unit (includes Presidential Guard), Police Force (includes Police Mobile Unit, a special weapons and tactics unit capable of assisting the Army in maintaining internal stability)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$12.8 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.8% (FY02)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 23,444 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 11,639 (2003 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 27.3% (male 11,116; female 10,844) 15-64 years: 66.5% (male 26,068; female 27,425) 65 years and over: 6.2% (male 1,654; female 3,362) (2003 est.)

Birth rate

16.89 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate

6.49 deaths/1,000 population (2003 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: 16.41 deaths/1,000 live births female: 11.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 20.75 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English (official), French (official), Creole

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 71.25 years male: 65.78 years female: 76.88 years (2003 est.)

Literacy

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

Median age

total: 26.9 years male: 25.8 years female: 27.9 years (2002)

Nationality

noun: Seychellois (singular and plural) adjective: Seychellois

Net migration rate

-5.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Population

80,469 (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate

0.46% (2003 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 (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.79 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Disputes - international

claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory)

Airports

14 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 4 (2002)

Highways

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

Merchant marine

total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 37,281 GRT/55,702 DWT ships by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 1, container 1 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: South Africa 2 (2002 est.)

Ports and harbors

Victoria

Railways

0 km

Waterways

none