›››
Seychelles
Seychelles
Population
121.4K
Rank #188Source: World Bank
Capital
Victoria
Source: REST Countries
Region
Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Source: REST Countries
GDP (Nominal)
$2.17B
Rank #176Source: World Bank
Land Area
452 km²
Rank #192Source: REST Countries
Life Expectancy
74.959 yrs
Source: World Bank
Historical Trends
Population Trend (5-Year)
Source: World Bank
GDP Trend (5-Year, Nominal USD)
Source: World Bank
Geography
Area: 452 km²
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
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 coral, flat, elevated reefs
Elevation: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Morne Seychellois 905 m
Natural Hazards: lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; occasional short droughts
Environmental Issues: water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater; water pollution; biodiversity maintainance
Land Use: agricultural land: 6.5% (2011 est.) forest: 88.5% (2011 est.) other: 5% (2011 est.)
Geography Note: 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,...
Natural Resources
fishcoconuts (copra)cinnamon trees
People & Society
Fertility Rate
2.02
Population
121.4K
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%)
Economy
GDP per Capita
$17,858.823
GDP per Capita PPP
33,238.58
(2024)
(2024)
GNI per Capita
17,460
(2024)
(2024)
Gini Index
32.1
(2018)
(2018)
Unemployment
Not Available
Inflation
0.312%
(2024)
(2024)
Public Debt
Not Available
Energy
Electricity Access
100%
(2023)
(2023)
Renewable Energy
1.9%
(2022)
(2022)
CO₂ Emissions
0.878 Mt
(2024)
(2024)
Energy Intensity
2.69 MJ/$
(2022)
(2022)
Renewable Electricity
4.514%
(2021)
(2021)
Environment
Forest Coverage
73.261% of land
(2023)
(2023)
Communications
Internet Users
87.401%
(2023)
(2023)
Mobile Penetration
184.904%
(2023)
(2023)
Broadband Subscribers
30.772%
(2023)
(2023)
Transportation
Air Transport Freight
1.178 M ton-km
(2023)
(2023)
Container Port Traffic
154,423.4 TEU
(2019)
(2019)
Airports
12,934
Rail Lines
N/A
Roads Total
544.5 km(©IRF)
Military
Military Forces
Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF): Army (includes infantry, Special Forces (Tazar), and Presidential Security Unit), Coast Guard, and Air Force
Personnel Strength
the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF) is comprised of about 500 personnel (200 Land Forces; 200 Coast Guard; 100 Air Force)
Military Expenditure (USD)
$0.03B
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)
1.18%
Military Expenditure History
1.3% of GDP (2019) 1.44% of GDP (2018) 1.57% of GDP (2017) 1.29% of GDP (2016) 1.21% of GDP (2015)
Equipment & Inventories
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...
Service Age & Obligation
18-28 years of age for voluntary military service (18-25 for officers); 6-year initial commitment; no conscription
Education
Pre-Primary Enrollment
104.291%
(2021)
(2021)
Primary Enrollment
93.38%
(2024)
(2024)
Secondary Enrollment
70.825%
(2024)
(2024)
Tertiary Enrollment
14.534%
(2024)
(2024)
Education Spending
4.454% of GDP
(2023)
(2023)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
14.488:1
(2018)
(2018)
Health
Physicians per 1,000
6.598
(2022)
(2022)
Safe Water Access
97.727%
(2024)
(2024)
Safe Drinking Water
64.702%
(2024)
(2024)
Under-5 Mortality
14.3 per 1,000
(2023)
(2023)
Maternal Mortality (World Bank)
18.258 per 100,000
(2021)
(2021)
Hospital Beds per 1,000
75.624
(2021)
(2021)
UHC Coverage Index
80
(2023)
(2023)
Measles Immunization
94%
(2024)
(2024)
Social Indicators
Extreme Poverty Rate
0.7%
(2018)
(2018)
Food Insecurity
2.5%
(2023)
(2023)
Youth NEET Rate
10.345%
(2024)
(2024)
Governance
Women in Government
20.588%
(2024)
(2024)
Voice & Accountability
0.56
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Political Stability
0.76
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Government Effectiveness
0.63
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Regulatory Quality
0.21
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Rule of Law
0.43
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Control of Corruption
1.63
(Strong)
(2023)
(Strong)
(2023)
Government
Government Type
presidential republic
Legal System
mixed legal system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law
Executive Branch
chief of state: 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...
Legislative Branch
description: 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...
Judicial Branch
highest courts: 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...
National Symbols
Flag Description
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...
National Symbols
coco de mer (sea coconut); national colors: blue, yellow, red, white, green
National Anthem
name: "Koste Seselwa" (Seychellois Unite) lyrics/music: David Francois Marc ANDRE and George Charles Robert PAYET note: adopted 1996
Safety
Homicide Rate
7.967 per 100,000
(2022)
(2022)
Travel Information
Language(s): Seychellois Creole, English, French
Currency: SCR (₨)
Timezone(s): UTC+04:00
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
Driving Side: Left
Calling Code: +248
Car Sign: SY
Week Starts: Monday
Photos
Area comparison map
Area comparison map • CIA World Factbook • 2020
The Republic of Seychelles is an island country spanning an archipelago of 155 islands in the Indian Ocean. It is about 1,500 km (930 mi) east of the African continent, and spreads out over a vast area of ocean north of Madagascar. Independent from the UK since 1976, the country nevertheless is far more French after years of early French settlement and influence. Since independence, tourism has grown dramatically to become the primary industry of Seychelles, overtaking plantation agriculture. This 2010 image of some of the northern Seychelles islands covers an area of 54 x 66 km (34 x 41 mi). Photo courtesy of NASA.
The Republic of Seychelles is an island country spanning an archipelago of 155 islands in the Indian Ocean. It is about 1,500 km (930 mi) east of the African continent, and spreads out over a vast area of ocean north of Madagascar. Independent from the UK since 1976, the country nevertheless is far more French after years of early French settlement and influence. Since independence, tourism has grown dramatically to become the primary industry of Seychelles, overtaking plantation agriculture. This 2010 image of some of the northern Seychelles islands covers an area of 54 x 66 km (34 x 41 mi). Photo courtesy of NASA. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
2 photos available
Data sources: World Bank, UN Data • Updated daily •Learn about our data