Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
31 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
39,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: 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)
Communications: Internet country code
.sc
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
87.82% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
14 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
18,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
192 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
165,000 (2023 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
coconuts, vegetables, bananas, eggs, chicken, pork, fruits, tomatoes, tropical fruits, cassava (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$728.171 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$695.973 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$158.6 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$310.4 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$256.2 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$41.0 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$36.9 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$41.8 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$53.1 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$173.2 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$160.168 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$141.648 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$155.194 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$166.2 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
14.5297 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Seychelles rupees (SCR) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
12.0583 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
12.7470 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
13.3139 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
13.3191 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
13.6478 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
13.9111 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
14.0333 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
17.6165 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
16.9205 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
14.2728 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
14.0181 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
14.5297 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
fish, scrap iron, animal meal, broadcasting equipment, ships (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$1.037 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$1.376 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$1.290 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$1.339 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$1.573 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$1.553 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$1.539 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$920.0 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$1.751 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$2.247 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$2.375 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$1.846 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
85.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
26.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
74.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-103.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
17.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
2.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
12.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
65.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$33,239 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$2.167 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$4.034 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018
32.1 (2018 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
23.9% (2018 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
2.6% (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, fish, ships, cars, plastic products (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$1.048 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$1.395 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$1.498 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$1.735 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$1.760 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$1.701 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$1.202 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$1.821 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$2.298 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$2.437 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$2.237 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
-6.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
4.04% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
-1.02% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
2.86% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
3.70% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
1.81% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
1.20% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
9.77% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
2.63% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
-1.04% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
0.31% (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
25.30% (2018 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2017
63.6% of GDP (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$2.283 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$2.376 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$2.728 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$2.940 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$3.341 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$3.058 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$2.976 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$3.354 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$3.43 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$3.549 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
8.91% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
12.12% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
6.95% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
4.94% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
5.51% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-11.74% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
0.55% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
12.71% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
2.26% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
3.47% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$24,985 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$25,435 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$28,811 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$30,675 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$34,219 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$31,056 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$29,980 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$29,973 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$31,781 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$12.9 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$15.1 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$18.4 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$10.0 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
0.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
0.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
0.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
$11.9 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$536.1 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$523.5 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$545.2 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$549.5 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$580.5 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$559.7 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$702.6 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$638.961 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$682.794 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$773.678 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
26.18% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
500 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
86.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
12.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
581.227 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
156,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
44.034 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
98.847 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
92 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
893,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
893,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May)
Environment: Environmental issues
limited freshwater resources; water pollution; biodiversity
Environment: 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
3.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
58.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
38% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
17.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
900,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
3.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
45.29% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
48,000 tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
24.4% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Geography: Area: land
455 sq km
Geography: Area: water
0 sq km
Geography: Coastline
491 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Morne Seychellois 905 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Indian Ocean 0 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
4 35 S, 55 40 E
Geography: 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
Geography: Irrigated land
3 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: total
0 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
3.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
58.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
38% (2023 est.)
Geography: Map references
Africa
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
24 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; occasional short droughts
Geography: 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
Geography: 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
Government: 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
Government: Capital: etymology
the British named the town Port Victoria in 1841 after Queen VICTORIA; the name was later shortened
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
4 37 S, 55 27 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of the Seychelles
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Government: Constitution: 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
Government: Constitution: history
previous 1970, 1979; latest drafted May 1993, approved by referendum 18 June 1993, effective 23 June 1993
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Seychelles
Government: Country name: 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: Country name: local long form
Republic of Seychelles
Government: Country name: local short form
Seychelles
Government: 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
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
USEmbassySeychelles@state.gov https://sc.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: 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
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[248] 422 5256
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
685 Third Avenue, Suite 1107, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10017
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Vivianne FOCK TAVE (since 16 December 2025); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
seychellesmission@sycun.org Foreign Affairs Department Republic of Seychelles » United States of America (mfa.gov.sc)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (212) 972-1786
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (212) 972-1785
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Patrick HERMINIE (since 26 October 2025)
Government: Executive branch: election results
2025 : Patrick HERMINIE elected president; Patrick HERMINIE (US) 52.7%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (LDS) 47.3%
Government: Executive branch: 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)
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
2030
Government: Executive branch: head of government
President Patrick HERMINIE (since 26 October 2025)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
9 October 2025
Government: Flag
description: five expanding bands of blue, yellow, red, white, and green, radiating from the bottom left corner meaning: 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
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: 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
Government: 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)
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Magistrates' Courts of Seychelles; Family Tribunal for issues such as domestic violence, child custody, and maintenance; Employment Tribunal for labor-related disputes
Government: Legal system
mixed system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
mixed system
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
September 2030
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
National Assembly
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
9/27/2025
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
34 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: parties elected and seats per party
United Seychelles (US) (19); Seychelles Democratic Alliance (Linyon Demokratik Seselwa, LDS) (15)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
26.5%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
5 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1996
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
David Francois Marc ANDRE and George Charles Robert PAYET
Government: National color(s)
blue, yellow, red, white, green
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Aldabra Atoll; Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
2 (both natural)
Government: National holiday
Constitution Day, 18 June (1993); Independence Day (National Day), 29 June (1976)
Government: National symbol(s)
coco de mer (sea coconut)
Government: Political parties
Seychelles Party for Social Justice and Democracy or SPSJD Seychellois Democratic Alliance or LDS (Linyon Demokratik Seselwa/Union Démocratique Seychelloise) Seychelles National Party or SNP United Seychelles or US
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: 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.
Military and Security: 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)
Military and Security: 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 Force Ministry of Internal Affairs: Seychelles Police Force (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 500 active Defense Forces (2025)
Military and Security: 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 and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
1.26% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
1.40% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
1.33% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
1.21% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
1.16% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
1.37% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
1.14% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
1.49% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
1.18% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18-35 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2026)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
17.7% (male 8,912/female 8,439)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
72.4% (male 37,841/female 33,210)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
10% (2024 est.) (male 4,220/female 5,565)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
4.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
4.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
9.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.49 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
11.59 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
4.48% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
44.6% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
7.02 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
13.8 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
7.3 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
38.2 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
24.4 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 96.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 3.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
4.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
10.7% national budget (2025 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
4.45% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
predominantly Creole (mainly of East African and Malagasy heritage); also French, Indian, Chinese, and Arab populations
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
0.89 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
5.3% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
10.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
2.6 beds/1,000 population (2023 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
7.4 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
12.8 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
12.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
80.7 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
72.1 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
93.95% (2010 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
28,000 VICTORIA (capital) (2018)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
42 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
39.4 years
People and Society: Median age: male
38.2 years
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Seychellois
People and Society: Net migration rate
0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
14% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
2.25 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
People and Society: Population
121,354 (2024 est.)
People and Society: 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
People and Society: Population growth rate
0.53% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
47,214
People and Society: Population: male
50,973
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
15 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
13 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
13 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.06 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1.14 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.76 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1.08 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
5.2% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
34.2% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
20.5% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
1.85 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
45.29% (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
16 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
S7
Transportation: Heliports
6 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
general cargo 6, oil tanker 6, other 18
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
30 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Victoria
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
0
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
1
Transportation: Ports: small
0
Transportation: Ports: total ports
1 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
1
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.