People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Seychellois.
Population (2002 est.) 80,098.
Annual growth rate (1999): 1.7%.
Ethnic groups: Creole (European, Asian, and African).
Religions: Catholic 86.6%, Anglican Church 6.8%, other Christians
2.5%, other 4.1%.
Languages: Official languages are Creole, English, and French.
Education: Public schools and private schools, compulsory through
grade 10. Literacy (1994)--87.5%.
Health: Free government health services for all people. Life expectancy--male
65.48 yrs, female 73.63 yrs. Infant mortality rate--16.86/1000.
Work force: 32,382 with 3,550 unemployed. Industries include tourism,
fishing, manufacturing, and construction.
Government
Type: Multiple-party republic.
Independence: June 29, 1976.
Constitution: June 18, 1993.
Branches: Executive--president (chief of state and head of government).
Legislative--unicameral National Assembly with 34 seats (25 directly
elected and 9 allocated on a proportional basis). Judicial--Supreme
Court, Appeals Court.
Political parties: Democratic Party (DP), Seychelles National Party
(SNP), Seychelles People's Progressive Front (SPPF).
Suffrage: Universal over 17.
Economy
GDP: $603.9 million.
Annual growth rate (2001): 3.3%.
Per capita income: $7,600.
Avg. inflation rate (1999): 6%.
Natural resources: Fish.
Agriculture: Copra, cinnamon, vanilla, coconuts, sweet potatoes,
tapioca, bananas, tuna, chicken.
Industry: Tourism, re-exports, maritime services.
Trade: Exports (2001)--$182.6 million: canned tuna, frozen/fresh
fish, frozen prawns, cinnamon bark. Imports (2001)--$360.2 million.
Major partners--France, Italy, U.K., Singapore, South Africa, Spain,
Saudi Arabia.
Official exchange rate (November 2003): 5.74 rupees=U.S.$1.
Economic aid received (1995): $16.4 million.
GEOGRAPHY
Seychelles is located in the Indian Ocean about 1,600 kilometers
(1,000 miles) east of Kenya. The nation is an archipelago of 115
tropical islands with two distinct collections of islands, some
comprised of granite and others of coral. The Mahe Group consists
of 42 granite islands, all within a 56-kilometer (35-mi.) radius
of the main island of Mahe. These islands are rocky, and most have
a narrow coastal stripe and a central range of hills rising as high
as 914 meters (3,000 ft.). Mahe is the largest island--9,142 sq.
km (55 sq. mi.)--and is the site of Victoria, the capital. The coral
islands are flat with elevated coral reefs at different stages of
formation. They have no fresh water; human life can be sustained
on them only with difficulty.
The climate
is equable and healthy, although quite humid, as the islands are
small and subject to marine influences. The temperature varies little
throughout the year. Temperatures on Mahe vary from 240C to 29.90C
(750F-850F), and rainfall ranges from 288 centimeters (90 in.) annually
at Victoria to 355 centimeters (140 in.) on the mountain slopes.
Precipitation is somewhat less on the other islands. During the
coolest months, July and August, the temperature drops to as low
as 700F. The southeast trade winds blow regularly from May to November,
and this is the most pleasant time of the year. The hot months are
from December to April, with higher humidity (80). March and April
are the hottest months, but the temperature seldom exceeds 880F.
Most of the islands lie outside the cyclone belt, so high winds
are rare.
