{ "Introduction": { "Background": { "text": "Seychelles was uninhabited prior to being discovered by Europeans early in the 16th century. A lengthy struggle between France and Great Britain for the islands ended in 1814, when they were ceded to the latter. During colonial rule, a plantation-based economy developed that relied on imported labor, primarily from European colonies in Africa. Independence came in 1976. Following a coup d’etat in 1977, the country was a socialist one-party state until adopting a new constitution and holding free elections in 1993. President France-Albert RENE, who had served since 1977, was reelected in 2001, but 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." } }, "Geography": { "Location": { "text": "archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar" }, "Geographic coordinates": { "text": "4 35 S, 55 40 E" }, "Map references": { "text": "Africa" }, "Area": { "total": { "text": "455 sq km" }, "land": { "text": "455 sq km" }, "water": { "text": "0 sq km" } }, "Area - comparative": { "text": "2.5 times the size of Washington, DC" }, "Land boundaries": { "total": { "text": "0 km" } }, "Coastline": { "text": "491 km" }, "Maritime claims": { "territorial sea": { "text": "12 nm" }, "contiguous zone": { "text": "24 nm" }, "exclusive economic zone": { "text": "200 nm" }, "continental shelf": { "text": "200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin" } }, "Climate": { "text": "tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May)" }, "Terrain": { "text": "Mahe Group is volcanic with a narrow coastal strip and rocky, hilly interior; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs" }, "Elevation": { "lowest point": { "text": "Indian Ocean 0 m" }, "highest point": { "text": "Morne Seychellois 905 m" } }, "Natural resources": { "text": "fish, coconuts (copra), cinnamon trees" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "6.5% (2011 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 2.2% (2011 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 4.3% (2011 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "88.5% (2011 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "5% (2011 est.)" } }, "Irrigated land": { "text": "3 sq km (2012)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "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" }, "Natural hazards": { "text": "lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; occasional short droughts" }, "Environment - current issues": { "text": "water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater; water pollution; biodiversity maintainance" }, "Environment - international agreements": { "party to": { "text": "Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands" }, "signed, but not ratified": { "text": "none of the selected agreements" } }, "Geography - note": { "text": "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" } }, "People and Society": { "Population": { "text": "96,387 (July 2021 est.)" }, "Nationality": { "noun": { "text": "Seychellois (singular and plural)" }, "adjective": { "text": "Seychellois" } }, "Ethnic groups": { "text": "predominantly creole (mainly of East African and Malagasy heritage); also French, Indian, Chinese, and Arab populations" }, "Languages": { "text": "Seychellois Creole (official) 89.1%, English (official) 5.1%, French (official) 0.7%, other 3.8%, unspecified 1.4% (2010 est.)" }, "Religions": { "text": "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.)" }, "Demographic profile": { "text": "

Seychelles has no indigenous population and was first permanently settled by a small group of French planters, African slaves, and South Indians in 1770. Seychelles’ modern population is composed of the descendants of French and later British settlers, Africans, and Indian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern traders and is concentrated on three of its 155 islands – the vast majority on Mahe and lesser numbers on Praslin and La Digue. Seychelles’ population grew rapidly during the second half of the 20th century, largely due to natural increase, but the pace has slowed because of fertility decline. The total fertility rate dropped sharply from 4.0 children per woman in 1980 to 1.9 in 2015, mainly as a result of a family planning program, free education and health care, and increased female labor force participation. Life expectancy has increased steadily, but women on average live 9 years longer than men, a difference that is higher than that typical of developed countries.

The combination of reduced fertility and increased longevity has resulted in an aging population, which will put pressure on the government’s provision of pensions and health care. Seychelles’ sustained investment in social welfare services, such as free primary health care and education up to the post-secondary level, have enabled the country to achieve a high human development index score – among the highest in Africa. Despite some of its health and education indicators being nearly on par with Western countries, Seychelles has a high level of income inequality.

An increasing number of migrant workers – mainly young men – have been coming to Seychelles in recent years to work in the construction and tourism industries. As of 2011, foreign workers made up nearly a quarter of the workforce. Indians are the largest non-Seychellois population – representing half of the country’s foreigners – followed by Malagasy.

" }, "Age structure": { "0-14 years": { "text": "18.85% (male 9,297/female 8,798)" }, "15-24 years": { "text": "12.39% (male 6,283/female 5,607)" }, "25-54 years": { "text": "49.03% (male 25,209/female 21,851)" }, "55-64 years": { "text": "11.46% (male 5,545/female 5,455)" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "8.27% (male 3,272/female 4,664) (2020 est.)" } }, "Dependency ratios": { "total dependency ratio": { "text": "46.7" }, "youth dependency ratio": { "text": "34.9" }, "elderly dependency ratio": { "text": "11.8" }, "potential support ratio": { "text": "8.5 (2020 est.)" } }, "Median age": { "total": { "text": "36.8 years" }, "male": { "text": "36.3 years" }, "female": { "text": "37.4 years (2020 est.)" } }, "Population growth rate": { "text": "0.67% (2021 est.)" }, "Birth rate": { "text": "12.63 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)" }, "Death rate": { "text": "6.83 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)" }, "Net migration rate": { "text": "0.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "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" }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "57.5% of total population (2020)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "1.26% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)" } }, "Major urban areas - population": { "text": "28,000 VICTORIA (capital) (2018)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { "text": "1.03 male(s)/female" }, "0-14 years": { "text": "1.06 male(s)/female" }, "15-24 years": { "text": "1.12 male(s)/female" }, "25-54 years": { "text": "1.15 male(s)/female" }, "55-64 years": { "text": "1.02 male(s)/female" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "0.7 male(s)/female" }, "total population": { "text": "1.07 male(s)/female (2020 est.)" } }, "Infant mortality rate": { "total": { "text": "10.83 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "male": { "text": "13.64 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "female": { "text": "7.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)" } }, "Life expectancy at birth": { "total population": { "text": "75.84 years" }, "male": { "text": "71.39 years" }, "female": { "text": "80.43 years (2021 est.)" } }, "Total fertility rate": { "text": "1.82 children born/woman (2021 est.)" }, "Drinking water source": { "improved: total": { "text": "total: 96.2% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 3.8% of population (2017 est.)" } }, "Current Health Expenditure": { "text": "5% (2017)" }, "Physicians density": { "text": "2.12 physicians/1,000 population (2016)" }, "Hospital bed density": { "text": "3.6 beds/1,000 population (2011)" }, "Sanitation facility access": { "improved: total": { "text": "total: 100% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 0% of population (2017 est.)" } }, "HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate": { "text": "NA" }, "HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS": { "text": "NA" }, "HIV/AIDS - deaths": { "text": "NA" }, "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": { "text": "14% (2016)" }, "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": { "text": "3.6% (2012)" }, "Education expenditures": { "text": "4.4% of GDP (2016)" }, "Literacy": { "definition": { "text": "age 15 and over can read and write" }, "total population": { "text": "95.9%" }, "male": { "text": "95.4%" }, "female": { "text": "96.4% (2018)" } }, "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": { "total": { "text": "14 years" }, "male": { "text": "13 years" }, "female": { "text": "16 years (2019)" } }, "Unemployment, youth ages 15-24": { "total": { "text": "11.6%" }, "male": { "text": "12.6%" }, "female": { "text": "10.4% (2018 est.)" } } }, "Government": { "Country name": { "conventional long form": { "text": "Republic of Seychelles" }, "conventional short form": { "text": "Seychelles" }, "local long form": { "text": "Republic of Seychelles" }, "local short form": { "text": "Seychelles" }, "etymology": { "text": "named by French Captain Corneille Nicholas MORPHEY after Jean Moreau de SECHELLES, the finance minister of France, in 1756" } }, "Government type": { "text": "presidential republic" }, "Capital": { "name": { "text": "Victoria" }, "geographic coordinates": { "text": "4 37 S, 55 27 E" }, "time difference": { "text": "UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)" }, "note": "

etymology: founded as L'etablissement in 1778 by French colonists, the town was renamed in 1841 by the British after Queen Victoria (1819-1901); \"victoria\" is the Latin word for \"victory\"" }, "Administrative divisions": { "text": "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 Perseverance I, Ile Perseverance II, La Digue, La Riviere Anglaise, Les Mamelles, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe Larue, Port Glaud, Roche Caiman, Saint Louis, Takamaka" }, "Independence": { "text": "29 June 1976 (from the UK)" }, "National holiday": { "text": "Constitution Day, 18 June (1993); Independence Day (National Day), 29 June (1976)" }, "Constitution": { "history": { "text": "previous 1970, 1979; latest drafted May 1993, approved by referendum 18 June 1993, effective 23 June 1993" }, "amendments": { "text": "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; amended several times, last in 2017" } }, "Legal system": { "text": "mixed legal system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law" }, "International law organization participation": { "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction" }, "Citizenship": { "citizenship by birth": { "text": "no" }, "citizenship by descent only": { "text": "at least one parent must be a citizen of the Seychelles" }, "dual citizenship recognized": { "text": "no" }, "residency requirement for naturalization": { "text": "5 years" } }, "Suffrage": { "text": "18 years of age; universal" }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { "text": "President Wavel RAMKALAWAN (since 26 October 2020); Vice President Ahmed AFIF (since 27 October 2020); the president is both chief of state and head of government" }, "head of government": { "text": "President Wavel RAMKALAWAN (since 26 October 2020); Vice President Ahmed AFIF (since 27 October 2020)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Council of Ministers appointed by the president" }, "elections/appointments": { "text": "president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for 1 additional term); election last held on 22-24 Oct 2020 (originally scheduled for December 2020 but moved up to coincide with the 22-24 October National Assembly election in order to cut election costs)" }, "election results": { "text": "Wavel RAMKALAWAN elected president; Wavel RAMKALAWAN (LDS) 54.9%, Danny FAURE (US) 43.5%" } }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { "text": "unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (35 seats in the 2020 -25 term; 26 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and up to 9 members elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)" }, "elections": { "text": "last held on 22-24 Oct 2020 (next to be held October 2025); note - the election was originally scheduled for 2021 but was moved up a year and will be held alongside the presidential election in order to cut election costs" }, "election results": { "text": "percent of vote by party - LDS 54.8%, US 42.3% , other 2.9%; seats by party - LDS 25, US10; composition - men 25, women 10, percent of women 29%" } }, "Judicial branch": { "highest courts": { "text": "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": { "text": "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": { "text": "Magistrates' Courts of Seychelles; Family Tribunal for issues such as domestic violence, child custody, and maintenance; Employment Tribunal for labor-related disputes" } }, "Political parties and leaders": { "text": "Lafors Seselwa Demokratik  or LSD [Martin AGLAE]
One Seychelles [Alain St. ANGE]
Seselwa (Seychelles) United Party or SUP [Robert ERNESTA] (formerly the New Democratic Party or NDP)
Seychelles National Party or SNP [Wavel RAMKALAWAN] (formerly the United Opposition or UO)
Seychelles Party for Social Justice and Democracy or SPSD [Alexia AMESBURY]
Seychelles Patriotic Movement or SPM [Vincent LARUER]
Seychelloise Alliance (Lalyans Seselwa) [Patrick PILLAY]
Seychellois Democratic Alliance (Linyon Demokratik Seselwa) or LDS [Roger MANCIENNE] (includes SNP, SPSD, and SUP)
United Seychelles or US [Vincent MERITON] (formerly People's Party (Parti Lepep) or PL; (formerly SPPF)" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "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 (observer)" }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador Ronald Jean JUMEAU (since 8 September 2017)       
       " }, "chancery": { "text": "800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York, NY 10017" }, "telephone": { "text": "[1] (212) 972-1785" }, "FAX": { "text": "[1] (212) 972-1786" }, "consulate(s) general": { "text": "New York" } }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "embassy": { "text": "the US does not have an embassy in Seychelles; the US Ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Seychelles" } }, "Flag description": { "text": "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" }, "National symbol(s)": { "text": "coco de mer (sea coconut); national colors: blue, yellow, red, white, green" }, "National anthem": { "name": { "text": "\"Koste Seselwa\" (Seychellois Unite)" }, "lyrics/music": { "text": "David Francois Marc ANDRE and George Charles Robert PAYET" }, "note": "

note: adopted 1996

" } }, "Economy": { "Economic overview": { "text": "

Since independence in 1976, per capita output in this Indian Ocean archipelago has expanded to roughly seven times the pre-independence, near-subsistence level, moving the island into the high income group of countries. Growth has been led by the tourism sector, which directly employs about 26% of the labor force and directly and indirectly accounts for more than 55% of GDP, and by tuna fishing. In recent years, the government has encouraged foreign investment to upgrade hotels and tourism industry services. At the same time, the government has moved to reduce the dependence on tourism by promoting the development of the offshore financial, information, and communication sectors and renewable energy.

In 2008, having depleted its foreign exchange reserves, Seychelles defaulted on interest payments due on a $230 million Eurobond, requested assistance from the IMF, and immediately enacted a number of significant structural reforms, including liberalization of the exchange rate, reform of the public sector to include layoffs, and the sale of some state assets. In December 2013, the IMF declared that Seychelles had successfully transitioned to a market-based economy with full employment and a fiscal surplus. However, state-owned enterprises still play a prominent role in the economy. Effective 1 January 2017, Seychelles was no longer eligible for trade benefits under the US African Growth and Opportunities Act after having gained developed country status. Seychelles grew at 5% in 2017 because of a strong tourism sector and low commodity prices. The Seychellois Government met the IMF’s performance criteria for 2017 but recognizes a need to make additional progress to reduce high income inequality, represented by a Gini coefficient of 46.8.

As a very small open economy dependent on tourism, Seychelles remains vulnerable to developments such as economic downturns in countries that supply tourists, natural disasters, and changes in local climatic conditions and ocean temperature. One of the main challenges facing the government is implementing strategies that will increase Seychelles' long-term resilience to climate change without weakening economic growth.

" }, "Real GDP growth rate": { "Real GDP growth rate 2017": { "text": "5.3% (2017 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2016": { "text": "4.5% (2016 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2015": { "text": "4.9% (2015 est.)" } }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": { "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019": { "text": "1.8% (2019 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018": { "text": "3.7% (2018 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017": { "text": "2.8% (2017 est.)" } }, "Credit ratings": { "Fitch rating": { "text": "B+ (2020)" } }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019": { "text": "$2.636 billion (2019 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018": { "text": "$2.503 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017": { "text": "$2.413 billion (2017 est.)" }, "note": "

note: data are in 2010 dollars

" }, "GDP (official exchange rate)": { "text": "$1.748 billion (2019 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita": { "Real GDP per capita 2019": { "text": "$14,955 (2019 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2018": { "text": "$14,296 (2018 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2017": { "text": "$13,877 (2017 est.)" }, "note": "

note: data are in 2010 dollars

" }, "Gross national saving": { "Gross national saving 2017": { "text": "8.1% of GDP (2017 est.)" }, "Gross national saving 2016": { "text": "10.2% of GDP (2016 est.)" }, "Gross national saving 2015": { "text": "15.2% of GDP (2015 est.)" } }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "2.5% (2017 est.)" }, "industry": { "text": "13.8% (2017 est.)" }, "services": { "text": "83.7% (2017 est.)" } }, "GDP - composition, by end use": { "household consumption": { "text": "52.7% (2017 est.)" }, "government consumption": { "text": "34.4% (2017 est.)" }, "investment in fixed capital": { "text": "26.7% (2017 est.)" }, "investment in inventories": { "text": "0% (2017 est.)" }, "exports of goods and services": { "text": "79.4% (2017 est.)" }, "imports of goods and services": { "text": "-93.2% (2017 est.)" } }, "Ease of Doing Business Index scores": { "Overall Ease of Doing Business score 2020": { "text": "71.8 (2020)" } }, "Agricultural products": { "text": "coconuts, vegetables, bananas, fruit, eggs, poultry, tomatoes, pork, tropical fruit, cassava" }, "Industries": { "text": "fishing, tourism, beverages" }, "Industrial production growth rate": { "text": "2.3% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { "text": "51,000 (2018 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { "text": "3%" }, "industry": { "text": "23%" }, "services": { "text": "74% (2006)" } }, "Unemployment rate": { "Unemployment rate 2017": { "text": "3% (2017 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2016": { "text": "2.7% (2016 est.)" } }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "39.3% (2013 est.)" }, "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": { "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2013": { "text": "46.8 (2013 est.)" } }, "Household income or consumption by percentage share": { "lowest 10%": { "text": "4.7%" }, "highest 10%": { "text": "15.4% (2007)" } }, "Budget": { "revenues": { "text": "593.4 million (2017 est.)" }, "expenditures": { "text": "600.7 million (2017 est.)" } }, "Taxes and other revenues": { "text": "39.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)" }, "Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)": { "text": "-0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)" }, "Public debt": { "Public debt 2017": { "text": "63.6% of GDP (2017 est.)" }, "Public debt 2016": { "text": "69.1% of GDP (2016 est.)" } }, "Fiscal year": { "text": "calendar year" }, "Current account balance": { "Current account balance 2017": { "text": "-$307 million (2017 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2016": { "text": "-$286 million (2016 est.)" } }, "Exports": { "Exports 2017": { "text": "$564.8 million (2017 est.)" }, "Exports 2016": { "text": "$477.6 million (2016 est.)" } }, "Exports - partners": { "text": "UAE 28.5%, France 24%, UK 13.8%, Italy 8.9%, Germany 4.6% (2017)" }, "Exports - commodities": { "text": "canned tuna, frozen fish, petroleum products (reexports)" }, "Imports": { "Imports 2017": { "text": "$1.155 billion (2017 est.)" }, "Imports 2016": { "text": "$991 million (2016 est.)" } }, "Imports - partners": { "text": "UAE 13.4%, France 9.4%, Spain 5.7%, South Africa 5% (2017)" }, "Imports - commodities": { "text": "machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals, other manufactured goods" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": { "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017": { "text": "$545.2 million (31 December 2017 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016": { "text": "$523.5 million (31 December 2016 est.)" } }, "Debt - external": { "Debt - external 31 December 2017": { "text": "$2.559 billion (31 December 2017 est.)" }, "Debt - external 31 December 2016": { "text": "$2.651 billion (31 December 2016 est.)" } }, "Exchange rates": { "currency": { "text": "Seychelles rupees (SCR) per US dollar -" }, "Exchange rates 2017": { "text": "13.64 (2017 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2016": { "text": "13.319 (2016 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2015": { "text": "13.319 (2015 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2014": { "text": "13.314 (2014 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2013": { "text": "12.747 (2013 est.)" } } }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { "text": "350 million kWh (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - consumption": { "text": "325.5 million kWh (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - exports": { "text": "0 kWh (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - imports": { "text": "0 kWh (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - installed generating capacity": { "text": "88,000 kW (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - from fossil fuels": { "text": "91% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - from nuclear fuels": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)" }, "Electricity - from hydroelectric plants": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)" }, "Electricity - from other renewable sources": { "text": "9% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)" }, "Crude oil - production": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)" }, "Crude oil - exports": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Crude oil - imports": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Crude oil - proved reserves": { "text": "0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - production": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - consumption": { "text": "7,300 bbl/day (2016 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - exports": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - imports": { "text": "7,225 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Natural gas - production": { "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)" }, "Natural gas - consumption": { "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)" }, "Natural gas - exports": { "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)" }, "Natural gas - imports": { "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)" }, "Natural gas - proved reserves": { "text": "0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)" }, "Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy": { "text": "1.15 million Mt (2017 est.)" } }, "Communications": { "Telephones - fixed lines": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "19,627" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "20.59 (2019 est.)" } }, "Telephones - mobile cellular": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "188,879" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "198.15 (2019 est.)" } }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { "text": "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": { "text": "fixed-line 21 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity is 198 telephones per 100 persons (2019)" }, "international": { "text": "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)" }, "note": "

note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated" }, "Broadcast media": { "text": "

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)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".sc" }, "Internet users": { "total": { "text": "55,616" }, "percent of population": { "text": "58.77% (July 2018 est.)" } }, "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": { "total": { "text": "19,696" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "21 (2018 est.)" } } }, "Transportation": { "National air transport system": { "number of registered air carriers": { "text": "1 (2020)" }, "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": { "text": "7" }, "annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers": { "text": "455,201 (2018)" }, "annual freight traffic on registered air carriers": { "text": "7.79 million mt-km (2018)" } }, "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": { "text": "S7 (2016)" }, "Airports": { "total": { "text": "14 (2013)" } }, "Airports - with paved runways": { "total": { "text": "7 (2019)" }, "2,438 to 3,047 m": { "text": "1" }, "914 to 1,523 m": { "text": "5" }, "under 914 m": { "text": "1" } }, "Airports - with unpaved runways": { "total": { "text": "7 (2013)" }, "914 to 1,523 m": { "text": "2 (2013)" }, "under 914 m": { "text": "5 (2013)" } }, "Heliports": { "text": "1 (2013)" }, "Roadways": { "total": { "text": "526 km (2015)" }, "paved": { "text": "514 km (2015)" }, "unpaved": { "text": "12 km (2015)" } }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { "text": "26" }, "by type": { "text": "general cargo 4, oil tanker 6, other 16 (2020)" } }, "Ports and terminals": { "major seaport(s)": { "text": "Victoria" } } }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { "text": "Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF): Army (includes infantry, Special Forces (Tazar), and Presidential Security Unit), Coast Guard, and Air Force (2019)" }, "Military expenditures": { "Military Expenditures 2019": { "text": "1.3% of GDP (2019)" }, "Military Expenditures 2018": { "text": "1.44% of GDP (2018)" }, "Military Expenditures 2017": { "text": "1.57% of GDP (2017)" }, "Military Expenditures 2016": { "text": "1.29% of GDP (2016)" }, "Military Expenditures 2015": { "text": "1.21% of GDP (2015)" } }, "Military and security service personnel strengths": { "text": "the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF) is comprised of about 500 personnel (200 Land Forces; 200 Coast Guard; 100 Air Force) (2019)" }, "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": { "text": "the SPDF's inventory primarily consists of Soviet-era equipment delivered in the 1970s and 1980s; since 2010, China and India are the leading suppliers of newer equipment (mostly donations of patrol boats and aircraft) (2019 est.)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-28 years of age for voluntary military service (18-25 for officers); 6-year initial commitment; no conscription (2019)" } }, "Transnational Issues": { "Disputes - international": { "text": "

Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Islands (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory)

" } } }