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>

Land

455 sq km

Total

455 sq km

Water

0 sq km

2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

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

491 km

Africa

Highest point

Morne Seychellois 905 m

Lowest point

Indian Ocean 0 m

4 35 S, 55 40 E

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

3 sq km (2012)

Total

0 km

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.)

arable land

0.33%

Forest

58.6% (2023 est.)

Other

38% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

3.04%

No

archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/aqCcy2TKh5TV5MAX8

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/536765

Africa

Contiguous zone

24 nm

Continental shelf

200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Territorial sea

12 nm

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

fish, coconuts (copra), cinnamon trees

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

Eastern Africa

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

UTC+04:00

number of time zones

1

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)

Beer

4.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

0.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

4.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

9.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

0.49 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

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

44.6% (2022 est.)

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

adult female

96 per 1,000

adult male

192 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

13.8 (2024 est.)

Potential support ratio

7.3 (2024 est.)

Total dependency ratio

38.2 (2024 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

24.4 (2024 est.)

improved total

64.7%

Improved: total

total: 96.4% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 3.6% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% GDP)

4.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

10.7% national budget (2025 est.)

4 % of GDP

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

0.89 (2025 est.)

4 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

5.3% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

10.2% of national budget (2022 est.)

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

Female

7.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

12.8 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

9 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

10 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

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

languages

Seychellois Creole, English, French

number of languages

3

Female

81.1 years

Male

72.2 years

Total population

76.6 years (2024 est.)

28,000 VICTORIA (capital) (2018)

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

Female

39.4 years

Male

38.2 years

Total

39.2 years (2025 est.)

55 births/1,000 women 15-19

Adjective

Seychellois

Noun

Seychellois (singular and plural)

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

14% (2016)

2.25 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

Female

47,214

Male

50,973

Total

98,187 (2024 est.)

0.53% (2025 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.)

Improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Female

15 years (2023 est.)

Male

13 years (2023 est.)

Total

13 years (2023 est.)

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

At birth

1.03 male(s)/female

Total population

1.08 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Female

5.2% (2025 est.)

Male

34.2% (2025 est.)

Total

20.5% (2025 est.)

1.8 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Urban population

58.8% of total population (2023)

measles

97%

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

Etymology

the British named the town Port Victoria in 1841 after Queen VICTORIA; the name was later shortened

Geographic coordinates

4 37 S, 55 27 E

Name

Victoria

Time difference

UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/sc.svg

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&rsquo;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

History

previous 1970, 1979; latest drafted May 1993, approved by referendum 18 June 1993, effective 23 June 1993

alternative spellings

SC, Republic of Seychelles, Repiblik Sesel, République des Seychelles

Conventional long form

Republic of Seychelles

Conventional short form

Seychelles

Etymology

named by French Captain Corneille Nicholas MORPHEY after Jean Moreau de S&Eacute;CHELLES, the finance minister of France, in 1756; the British changed the spelling of the name in 1815 when they acquired the islands

FIFA code

SEY

Local long form

Republic of Seychelles

local long form (crs)

Repiblik Sesel

Local short form

Seychelles

Chief of mission

Ambassador Henry V. JARDINE (since 22 February 2023) and Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Adham LOUTFI (since 6 October 2023); note - Ambassador JARDINE is posted in Mauritius and is accredited to Seychelles, and Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires LOUTFI is posted in Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles

Email address and website

<br>USEmbassySeychelles@state.gov<br><br>https://sc.usembassy.gov/

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

Chancery

685 Third Avenue, Suite 1107, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10017

Chief of mission

Ambassador Vivianne FOCK TAVE (since 16 December 2025); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN

Email address and website

seychellesmission@sycun.org<br><br>Foreign Affairs Department Republic of Seychelles » United States of America (mfa.gov.sc)

FAX

[1] (212) 972-1786

Telephone

[1] (212) 972-1785

Cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

Chief of state

President Patrick HERMINIE (since 26 October 2025)

Election results

<br><em>2025</em>: Patrick HERMINIE elected president; Patrick HERMINIE (US) 52.7%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (LDS) 47.3%

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)

Expected date of next election

2030

Head of government

President Patrick HERMINIE (since 26 October 2025)

Most recent election date

9 October 2025

Note

<strong>note: </strong>the president is both chief of state and head of government

<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

The flag of Seychelles is composed of five broadening oblique bands of blue, yellow, red, white and green, which extend from the hoist side of the bottom edge to the top and fly edges of the field.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/sc.svg

presidential republic

29 June 1976 (from the UK)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

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

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

Electoral system

mixed system

Expected date of next election

September 2030

Legislative structure

unicameral

Legislature name

National Assembly

Most recent election date

9/27/2025

Number of seats

34 (all directly elected)

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%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

5 years

blue, yellow, red, white, green

Selected World Heritage Site locales

Aldabra Atoll; Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve

Total World Heritage Sites

2 (both natural)

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

coco de mer (sea coconut)

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

Monday

18 years of age; universal

Yes

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

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Expenditures

$728.171 million (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> central government revenues and expenditures (excluding grants and social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Revenues

$695.973 million (2023 est.)

code

SCR

name

Seychellois rupee (SCR) [₨]

$-175,674,036

Current account balance 2021

-$160.168 million (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$141.648 million (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$155.194 million (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

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

Currency

Seychelles rupees (SCR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

17.617 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

16.921 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

14.273 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

14.018 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

14.53 (2024 est.)

$1.85 billion

Exports 2021

$1.751 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$2.247 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$2.375 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

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

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$226.13 million

Exports of goods and services

85.2% (2024 est.)

Government consumption

26.3% (2024 est.)

Household consumption

74.6% (2024 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-103.2% (2024 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

17.2% (2024 est.)

Investment in inventories

0% (2024 est.)

Note

<strong>note:</strong> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agriculture

2.5% (2024 est.)

Industry

12.3% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Services

65.8% (2024 est.)

$2.167 billion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$17,859

32.1 (2018)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018

32.1 (2018 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

$2.1 billion

$17,460

17 % of GDP

Highest 10%

23.9% (2018 est.)

Lowest 10%

2.6% (2018 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$2.24 billion

Imports 2021

$1.821 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$2.298 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$2.437 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

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

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

-6.4% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

fishing, tourism, beverages

0.31%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

2.6% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

-1% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

0.3% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

25.3% (2018 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

Note

<b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2017

63.6% of GDP (2017 est.)

$4.03 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$3.354 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$3.43 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$3.549 billion (2024 est.)

3.47%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2022

12.7% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

2.3% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

3.5% (2024 est.)

$33,239

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2022

$28,000 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$28,600 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$29,200 (2024 est.)

$11.95 million

Note

<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

0.6% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0.5% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

$773.68 million

Note

<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$638.961 million (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$682.794 million (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$773.678 million (2024 est.)

26.18% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Imports

500 metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption

581.227 million kWh (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity

156,000 kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

44.034 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Fossil fuels

86.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

0%

nuclear

0%

renewable

4.51%

Solar

12.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Wind

1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

98.847 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

1.9%

per 100 inhabitants

31 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

31 (2023 est.)

Total

39,000 (2023 est.)

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

Percent of population

87% (2023 est.)

+248

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

14 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions

18,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100

185 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

192 (2022 est.)

Total subscriptions

165,000 (2023 est.)

passengers carried

236,917 passengers

registered carrier departures

12,934 departures

16 (2025)

S7

Left

6 (2025)

By type

general cargo 6, oil tanker 6, other 18

Total

30 (2023)

Key ports

Victoria

Large

0

Medium

0

Ports with oil terminals

1

Small

0

Total ports

1 (2024)

Very small

1

SY

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)

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)

active duty personnel

0

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)

1 % of GDP

current USD

$26,860,870

Military Expenditures 2020

1.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)

percent of central government expenditure

3.36 %

percent of GDP

1.18 % of GDP

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

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.)

Total emissions

893,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

limited freshwater resources; water pollution; biodiversity

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

17.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

33 % of total land area

5 % of total

Agricultural

900,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial

3.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal

9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually

48,000 tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

24.4% (2022 est.)