Seychelles

<p>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.</p>

archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar

4 35 S, 55 40 E

Africa

2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

491 km

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

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

fish, coconuts (copra), cinnamon trees

3 sq km (2012)

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

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

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

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

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

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.)

0.53% (2025 est.)

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

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

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

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

28,000 VICTORIA (capital) (2018)

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

1.8 children born/woman (2025 est.)

0.89 (2025 est.)

2.25 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

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

14% (2016)

44.6% (2022 est.)

limited freshwater resources; water pollution; biodiversity

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

17.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

presidential republic

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

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

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

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

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

29 June 1976 (from the UK)

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

<strong>description:</strong> five expanding bands of blue, yellow, red, white, and green, radiating from the bottom left corner<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> 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

coco de mer (sea coconut)

blue, yellow, red, white, green

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

$2.167 billion (2024 est.)

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

fishing, tourism, beverages

-6.4% (2024 est.)

25.3% (2018 est.)

26.18% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

France 20%, Mauritius 12%, UK 9%, Japan 8%, Italy 8% (2023)

fish, scrap iron, animal meal, broadcasting equipment, ships (2023)

UAE 32%, Spain 10%, France 6%, South Africa 6%, India 6% (2023)

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

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)

.sc

S7

16 (2025)

6 (2025)

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<br><br>Ministry of Internal Affairs: Seychelles Police Force (2025)

approximately 500 active Defense Forces (2025)

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)

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

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)