Seychelles
Republic of Seychelles
Capital: Victoria
History
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; he was reelected in May 2011.
Geography
Metric Units
|
Total Area
|
455
sq km
|
| Land Boundaries |
0
km
|
| Border Countries |
No data |
| Coastline |
491
km
|
| Terrain |
Mahe Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky, hilly; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs |
| Minimum Elevation |
0
m
|
| Maximum Elevation |
905
m
|
| Climate |
tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May) |
| Natural Resources |
fish, copra, cinnamon trees |
| Arable Land |
2.17% |
| Permanent Crops |
4.35% |
Economy
Budget & Debt
Trade
| Exports |
$501.8 million |
| Export Items |
canned tuna, frozen fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (reexports) |
| Export Partners |
France 26.5%, UK 21%, Japan 11%, Italy 10% (2011) |
| Imports |
$890.8 million |
| Import Items |
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals, other manufactured goods |
| Import Partners |
Saudi Arabia 23.9%, Spain 8.3%, France 5.8%, South Africa 5%, Singapore 4.1% (2011) |
People
| Population |
90,846 |
| Population Growth |
0.9% |
| Ethnic Groups |
mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab |
| Religion |
Roman Catholic 82.3%, Protestant 7.5% (Anglican 6.4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.1%), other Christian 3.4%, Hindu 2.1%, Muslim 1.1%, other non-Christian 1.5%, unspecified 1.5%, none 0.6% (2002 census) |
| Life Expectancy |
74.01 years |
| Infant Mortality |
1.04 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Maternal Mortality |
1.3 deaths/100,000 live births |
Energy
