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| Introduction | Seychelles |
| 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. On 14 April 2004 RENE stepped down and Vice President James MICHEL was sworn in as president. |
| People | Seychelles |
| Population: | 80,832 (July 2004 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 26.9% (male 10,987; female 10,717) 15-64 years: 66.9% (male 26,380; female 27,731) 65 years and over: 6.2% (male 1,638; female 3,379) (2004 est.) |
| Median age: | total: 27.3 years male: 26.2 years female: 28.4 years (2004 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 0.45% (2004 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 16.55 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Death rate: | 6.41 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -5.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| 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 (2004 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 15.97 deaths/1,000 live births female: 11.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) male: 20.2 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 71.53 years male: 66.1 years female: 77.14 years (2004 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 1.77 children born/woman (2004 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | NA |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | NA |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA |
| Nationality: | noun: Seychellois (singular and plural) adjective: Seychellois |
| Ethnic groups: | mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab |
| Religions: | Roman Catholic 86.6%, Anglican 6.8%, other Christian 2.5%, other 4.1% |
| Languages: | English (official), French (official), Creole |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 58% male: 56% female: 60% (1971 est.) |
| Government | Seychelles |
| Country name: | conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles conventional short form: Seychelles |
| Government type: | republic |
| Capital: | Victoria |
| 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 |
| Independence: | 29 June 1976 (from UK) |
| National holiday: | Constitution Day (National Day), 18 June (1993) |
| Constitution: | 18 June 1993 |
| Legal system: | based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law |
| Suffrage: | 17 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: President James MICHEL (since 14 April 2004); 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 re-elected 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; France Albert RENE stepped down 14 April 2004 and Vice President James MICHEL was sworn in as president cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president head of government: President James MICHEL (since 14 April 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government |
| 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 |
| Judicial branch: | Court of Appeal; Supreme Court; judges for both courts are appointed by the president |
| 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 |
| International organization participation: | ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer) |
| 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 |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | the US does not have an embassy in Seychelles; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to the Seychelles |
| Flag description: | five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, and green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side |
| Communications | Seychelles |
| Telephones - main lines in use: | 21,700 (2002) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: | 54,500 (2003) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: effective system domestic: 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) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 2 (1998) |
| Radios: | 42,000 (1997) |
| Television broadcast stations: | 2 (plus 9 repeaters) (1997) |
| Televisions: | 11,000 (1997) |
| Internet country code: | .sc |
| Internet hosts: | 264 (2003) |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 1 (2000) |
| Internet users: | 11,700 (2002) |
| Transportation | Seychelles |
| Highways: | total: 373 km paved: 315 km unpaved: 58 km (1997 est.) |
| Ports and harbors: | Victoria |
| Merchant marine: | total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 42,223 GRT/63,538 DWT foreign-owned: Bulgaria 1, Cyprus 1, Nigeria 1, South Africa 2 (2003 est.) by type: cargo 4, chemical tanker 3, container 1 |
| Airports: | 15 (2003 est.) |
| Airports - with paved runways: | total: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.) |
| Military | Seychelles |
| Military branches: | Army, Coast Guard (including Navy Wing, Air Wing), National Guard, Presidential Protection Unit (includes Presidential Guard), Seychelles National Police (includes Police Mobile Unit) |
| Military manpower - availability: | males age 15-49: 23,661 (2004 est.) |
| Military manpower - fit for military service: | males age 15-49: 11,712 (2004 est.) |
| Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $11.6 million (2003) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 1.8% (2003) |
| Transnational Issues | Seychelles |
| Disputes - international: | together with Mauritius, Seychelles claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory) |
| This page was last updated on 16 December, 2004 |
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