Location of the Seychelles. Source: Vardion/Wikipedia

Map of the Seychelles. Source: CIA World Factbook

The African nation of the Seychelles is an  archipelago on over a hundred islands in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar, The exact number of islands is uncertain. The couintries constitution states 155, while other sources count 115 or 116.  About 42 are "granitic islands", that is composed of granite. The most important Granitic Seychelles are Mahé (the largest Seychelles island and location of the capitol Victoria), Praslin, Silhouette, and La Digue. There are also and about 75 small "coralline islands", that is an an island composed in part of coral sand and detritus

The Seychelles is the smallest African nation by both area (455 km²) and population (82,247). 

The Seychelles' major environmental issues include: its water supply which depends on catchments to collect rainwater.

A lengthy struggle between France and Great Britain for the islands ended in 1814, when they were ceded to the latter. Independence came in 1976. Socialist rule was brought to a close with a new constitution and free elections in 1993. President France-Albert Rene, who had served since 1977, was re-elected in 2001, but stepped down in 2004. Vice President James Michel took over the presidency and in July 2006 was elected to a new five-year term.

Geography

Location: archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar

Geographic Coordinates: 4 35 S, 55 40 E

arable land: 2.17%
permanent crops: 13.04%
other: 84.79% (2005) 

Area: 455 km² (455 km² land and 0 km² water)

Land Boundaries: 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

Natural Hazards: lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; short droughts possible

Terrain: Mahe Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky, hilly; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs. Its lowest point is the Indian Ocean (0 metres) and its highest point is Morne Seychellois (905 metres)

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

Government

Government Type: Republic

Capital: Victoria

Independence Date: 29 June 1976 (from UK)

Legal System: based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal

International Environmental Agreements

The Seychelles is party to international agreements on: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, and Wetlands.

People and Society

Population: 82,247 (July 2008 est.)

Age Structure:

0-14 years: 24.9% (male 10,337/female 10,108)
15-64 years: 69.1% (male 27,752/female 29,048)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 1,575/female 3,427) (2008 est.)

Population Growth Rate: 0.428% (2008 est.)

Birth Rate: 15.6 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death Rate: 6.21 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net Migration Rate: -5.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth:  72.6 years (2008 est.)

Total Fertility Rate: 1.73 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Languages: Creole 91.8%, English 4.9% (official), other 3.1%, unspecified 0.2% (2002 census)

Literacy (2002 census):  91.8% (male: 91.4% - female: 92.3%)

Agriculture

Agricultural Products: coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), bananas; poultry; tuna

Resources

Natural Resources: fish, copra, cinnamon trees.

Energy

Conflict

International Disputes: together with Mauritius, Seychelles claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory)

Economy

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 upper-middle income group of countries. Growth has been led by the tourist sector, which employs about 30% of the labor force and provides more than 70% of hard currency earnings, and by tuna fishing. In recent years, the government has encouraged foreign investment to upgrade hotels and other services. At the same time, the government has moved to reduce the dependence on tourism by promoting the development of farming, fishing, and small-scale manufacturing. Sharp drops illustrated the vulnerability of the tourist sector in 1991-92 due largely to the Gulf War and once again following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the US. Economic growth slowed in 1998-2002 and fell in 2003-04, due to sluggish tourist and tuna sectors, but resumed in 2005-07. Real GDP grew by 5.8% in 2007, driven by tourism and a boom in tourism-related construction. The Seychelles rupee was allowed to depreciate in 2006 after being overvalued for years and fell by 10% in the first 9 months of 2007.

GDP (Purchasing Power Parity): $1.378 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (Official Exchange Rate): $710 million (2007 est.)

GDP- real growth rate: 5.3% (2007 est.)

GDP- per capita (PPP): $16,600 (2007 est.)

GDP- composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.4%
industry: 25.7%
services: 71.9% (2007 est.)

Population Below Poverty Line: NA %

Industries: fishing, tourism, processing of coconuts and vanilla, coir (coconut fiber) rope, boat building, printing, furniture; beverages

Exports: canned tuna, frozen fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (reexports)

Export Partners: UK 25.1%, France 19.3%, Mauritius 10.8%, Japan 8.1%, Italy 5.6%, Spain 5% (2006)

Imports: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals

Import Partners: Saudi Arabia 16.4%, Germany 10.1%, South Africa 9.2%, France 7.6%, Spain 7.1%, Singapore 5.4% (2006)

Economic Aid Recipient: $18.81 million (2005)

Currency: Seychelles rupee (SCR)

Ports and Terminals: Victoria

Further Reading

1. CIA World Factbook