Seychelles
Republic of Seychelles
- 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.
- Location
- archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar
- Geographic coordinates
- 4 35 S, 55 40 E
- Map references
- Africa
- Area
- total: 455 sq km
land: 455 sq km
water: 0 sq km - Area - comparative
- 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
- Land boundaries
- total: 0 km
- Coastline
- 491 km
- 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 - Climate
- tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May)
- 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
- Elevation
- highest point: Morne Seychellois 905 m
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m - Natural resources
- fish, coconuts (copra), cinnamon trees
- Land use
- agricultural land: 3.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
forest: 58.6% (2023 est.)
other: 38% (2023 est.) - Irrigated land
- 3 sq km (2012)
- Population distribution
- 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
- Natural hazards
- lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; occasional short droughts
- Geography - note
- 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
- Population
- total: 98,187 (2024 est.)
male: 50,973
female: 47,214 - Nationality
- noun: Seychellois (singular and plural)
adjective: Seychellois - Ethnic groups
- predominantly Creole (mainly of East African and Malagasy heritage); also French, Indian, Chinese, and Arab populations
- Languages
- Seychellois Creole (official) 89.1%, English (official) 5.1%, French (official) 0.7%, other 3.8%, unspecified 1.4% (2010 est.)
- 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.)
- 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) - 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.) - Median age
- total: 39.2 years (2025 est.)
male: 38.2 years
female: 39.4 years - Population growth rate
- 0.53% (2025 est.)
- Birth rate
- 11.59 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- Death rate
- 7.02 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- Net migration rate
- 0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- Population distribution
- 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
- Urbanization
- urban population: 58.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) - Major urban areas - population
- 28,000 VICTORIA (capital) (2018)
- 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.) - Maternal mortality ratio
- 42 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
- Infant mortality rate
- total: 10 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 12.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.4 deaths/1,000 live births - Life expectancy at birth
- total population: 76.6 years (2024 est.)
male: 72.2 years
female: 81.1 years - Total fertility rate
- 1.8 children born/woman (2025 est.)
- Gross reproduction rate
- 0.89 (2025 est.)
- Drinking water source
- improved: total: total: 96.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 3.6% of population (2022 est.) - Health expenditure
- Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 5.3% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 10.2% of national budget (2022 est.) - Physician density
- 2.25 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
- Hospital bed density
- 3.2 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
- Sanitation facility access
- improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.) - Obesity - adult prevalence rate
- 14% (2016)
- 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.) - Tobacco use
- total: 20.5% (2025 est.)
male: 34.2% (2025 est.)
female: 5.2% (2025 est.) - Currently married women (ages 15-49)
- 44.6% (2022 est.)
- Education expenditure
- Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 10.7% national budget (2025 est.) - School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
- total: 13 years (2023 est.)
male: 13 years (2023 est.)
female: 15 years (2023 est.)
- Environmental issues
- limited freshwater resources; water pollution; biodiversity
- International environmental 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 - Climate
- tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May)
- Land use
- agricultural land: 3.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
forest: 58.6% (2023 est.)
other: 38% (2023 est.) - Urbanization
- urban population: 58.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) - Carbon dioxide emissions
- total 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.) - Particulate matter emissions
- 17.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
- Waste and recycling
- municipal solid waste generated annually: 48,000 tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 24.4% (2022 est.) - Total water withdrawal
- municipal: 9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial: 3.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural: 900,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)
- 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 - Government type
- presidential republic
- 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 - 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
- Legal system
- mixed system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law
- 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 - International law organization participation
- has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
- 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 - Suffrage
- 18 years of age; universal
- Executive branch
- chief of state: President Patrick HERMINIE (since 26 October 2025)
head of government: President Patrick HERMINIE (since 26 October 2025)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
most recent election date: 9 October 2025
election results: 2025: Patrick HERMINIE elected president; Patrick HERMINIE (US) 52.7%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (LDS) 47.3%
expected date of next election: 2030 - Legislative branch
- legislature name: National Assembly
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 34 (all directly elected)
electoral system: mixed system
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 9/27/2025
parties elected and seats per party: United Seychelles (US) (19); Seychelles Democratic Alliance (Linyon Demokratik Seselwa, LDS) (15)
percentage of women in chamber: 26.5%
expected date of next election: September 2030 - 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 - Political parties
- Seychelles Party for Social Justice and Democracy or SPSJDSeychellois Democratic Alliance or LDS (Linyon Demokratik Seselwa/Union Démocratique Seychelloise)Seychelles National Party or SNPUnited Seychelles or US
- Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission: Ambassador Vivianne FOCK TAVE (since 16 December 2025); 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.orgForeign Affairs Department Republic of Seychelles » United States of America (mfa.gov.sc) - 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, Mahe, 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
email address and website: USEmbassySeychelles@state.govhttps://sc.usembassy.gov/ - 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
- Independence
- 29 June 1976 (from the UK)
- National holiday
- Constitution Day, 18 June (1993); Independence Day (National Day), 29 June (1976)
- Flag
- description: five expanding bands of blue, yellow, red, white, and green, radiating from the bottom left cornermeaning: 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
- National symbol(s)
- coco de mer (sea coconut)
- National color(s)
- blue, yellow, red, white, green
- National anthem(s)
- title: "Koste Seselwa" (Seychellois Unite)
lyrics/music: David Francois Marc ANDRE and George Charles Robert PAYET
history: adopted 1996 - National heritage
- total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Aldabra Atoll; Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve
- 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
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $3.549 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $3.43 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $3.354 billion (2022 est.) - Real GDP growth rate
- Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 12.7% (2022 est.) - Real GDP per capita
- Real GDP per capita 2024: $29,200 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $28,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $28,000 (2022 est.) - GDP (official exchange rate)
- $2.167 billion (2024 est.)
- Inflation rate (consumer prices)
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 0.3% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: -1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 2.6% (2022 est.) - GDP - composition, by sector of origin
- agriculture: 2.5% (2024 est.)
industry: 12.3% (2024 est.)
services: 65.8% (2024 est.) - GDP - composition, by end use
- household consumption: 74.6% (2024 est.)
government consumption: 26.3% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 17.2% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services: 85.2% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services: -103.2% (2024 est.) - Agricultural products
- coconuts, vegetables, bananas, eggs, chicken, pork, fruits, tomatoes, tropical fruits, cassava (2023)
- Industries
- fishing, tourism, beverages
- Industrial production growth rate
- -6.4% (2024 est.)
- Population below poverty line
- 25.3% (2018 est.)
- Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
- Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018: 32.1 (2018 est.)
- Household income or consumption by percentage share
- lowest 10%: 2.6% (2018 est.)
highest 10%: 23.9% (2018 est.) - Remittances
- Remittances 2023: 0.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 0.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 0.6% of GDP (2021 est.) - Budget
- revenues: $695.973 million (2023 est.)
expenditures: $728.171 million (2023 est.) - Public debt
- Public debt 2017: 63.6% of GDP (2017 est.)
- Taxes and other revenues
- 26.18% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
- Current account balance
- Current account balance 2023: -$155.194 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$141.648 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2021: -$160.168 million (2021 est.) - Exports
- Exports 2023: $2.375 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $2.247 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2021: $1.751 billion (2021 est.) - Exports - partners
- France 20%, Mauritius 12%, UK 9%, Japan 8%, Italy 8% (2023)
- Exports - commodities
- fish, scrap iron, animal meal, broadcasting equipment, ships (2023)
- Imports
- Imports 2023: $2.437 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $2.298 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2021: $1.821 billion (2021 est.) - Imports - partners
- UAE 32%, Spain 10%, France 6%, South Africa 6%, India 6% (2023)
- Imports - commodities
- refined petroleum, fish, ships, cars, plastic products (2023)
- Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
- Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $773.678 million (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $682.794 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $638.961 million (2022 est.) - Exchange rates
- Currency: Seychelles rupees (SCR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 14.53 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 14.018 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 14.273 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 16.921 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 17.617 (2020 est.)
- Electricity access
- electrification - total population: 100% (2022 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.) - 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.) - Coal
- imports: 500 metric tons (2023 est.)
- Petroleum
- refined petroleum consumption: 6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
- Energy consumption per capita
- Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 98.847 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
- Telephones - fixed lines
- total subscriptions: 18,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2023 est.) - Telephones - mobile cellular
- total subscriptions: 165,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 192 (2022 est.) - Broadcast media
- 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)
- Internet country code
- .sc
- Internet users
- percent of population: 87% (2023 est.)
- Broadband - fixed subscriptions
- total: 39,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2023 est.)
- Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
- S7
- Airports
- 16 (2025)
- Heliports
- 6 (2025)
- Merchant marine
- total: 30 (2023)
by type: general cargo 6, oil tanker 6, other 18 - Ports
- total ports: 1 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 0
small: 0
very small: 1
ports with oil terminals: 1
key ports: Victoria
- Military and security forces
- 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 ForceMinistry of Internal Affairs: Seychelles Police Force (2025)
- Military expenditures
- Military Expenditures 2024: 1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 1.6% of GDP (2020 est.) - Military and security service personnel strengths
- approximately 500 active Defense Forces (2025)
- Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
- 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)
- Military service age and obligation
- 18-35 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2026)
- 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 maintains close security ties with India, which has provided support to the SDF's maritime security operations (2025)