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Seychelles
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Republic of Seychelles
President: James Michel (2004)
Current government officials
Total area: 176 sq mi (456 sq km)
Population (2007 est.): 81,895 (growth
rate: 0.4%); birth rate: 15.8/1000; infant mortality rate:
14.8/1000; life expectancy: 72.3; density per sq mi: 465
Capital and largest city (2003 est.):
Victoria, 23,000
Monetary unit: Seychelles rupee
Languages:
Seselwa Creole 92%, English 5%, French (all
official) (2002)
Ethnicity/race:
mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and
Arab
Religions:
Roman Catholic 83%, Anglican 6%, Seventh-Day
Adventist 1%, other Christian 3%, Hindu 2%, Muslim 1%, none 1%
Literacy rate: 91.8% (2002
census)
Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2007
est.): $1.378 billion; per capita $16,600. Real growth rate:
5.3%. Inflation: 5.7%. Unemployment: 2% (2006 est.).
Arable land: 2%. Agriculture: coconuts, cinnamon,
vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), bananas; poultry; tuna.
Labor force: 30,900 (1996); industry 19%, services 71%,
agriculture 10% (1989). Industries: fishing, tourism,
processing of coconuts and vanilla, coir (coconut fiber) rope, boat
building, printing, furniture; beverages. Natural resources:
fish, copra, cinnamon trees. Exports: $434 million f.o.b.
(2007 est.): canned tuna, frozen fish, cinnamon bark, copra,
petroleum products (reexports). Imports: $721 million f.o.b.
(2007 est.): machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum
products, chemicals. Major trading partners: UK, France,
Spain, Japan, Italy, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa
(2004).
Member of Commonwealth of Nations
Communications: Telephones: main lines
in use: 20,700 (2006); mobile cellular: 70,300 (2006). Radio
broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 2 (2001).
Radios: 42,000 (1997). Television broadcast stations:
2 (plus 9 repeaters) (1997). Televisions: 11,000 (1997).
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 187 (2007). Internet
users: 29,000 (2006).
Transportation: Railways: 0 km.
Highways: total: 458 km; paved: 440 km; unpaved: 18 km
(2003). Ports and harbors: Victoria. Airports: 15
(2007).
International disputes: claims the
Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British Indian Ocean
Territory).
Major sources and definitions
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Geography
The Seychelles consist of an archipelago of about 100 islands in the
Indian Ocean northeast of Madagascar. The principal islands are Mahé (55
sq mi; 142 sq km), Praslin (15 sq mi; 38 sq km), and La Digue (4 sq mi; 10
sq km). The Aldabra, Farquhar, and Desroches groups are included in the
territory of the republic.
Government
Socialist multiparty republic.
History
The Seychelles were uninhabited when the British East India Company
arrived on the archipelago in 1609. Thereafter, they became a favorite
pirate haven. The French claimed the islands in 1756 and administered them
as part of the colony of Mauritius. The British gained control of the
islands through the Treaty of Paris (1814) and changed the islands' name
from the French Séchelles to the Anglicized Seychelles.
The islands became self-governing in 1975 and independent on June 29,
1976. They have remained a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Their
first president, James Mancham, was overthrown in 1977 by the prime
minister, France-Albert René. At first René created a Socialist state with
a one-party system, but later he reintroduced a multiparty system as well
as various reforms.
To increase revenue, in 1996 the government quietly initiated an
Economic Citizenship Program that provides foreigners with the opportunity
to obtain a Seychelles passport upon payment of $25,000. A new law in late
1995 had granted immunity from criminal prosecution to anyone investing
$10 million in the country.
In April 2004, President France-Albert René stepped down after 27 years
in power. His vice president, James Michel, who had also served in the
government for 27 years, assumed the presidency. In July 2006, Michel won
reelection with 53.7% of the vote.
See also Encyclopedia: Seychelles
U.S. State Dept. Country Notes:
Seychelles.
Seychelles Statistics and
Database Administration Section: www.seychelles.net/misd/ .
Fact Monster/Information Please®
Database, © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
More on Seychelles from Fact Monster:
- Seychelles - Seychelles Seychelles , officially Republic of Seychelles, republic (2005 est. pop. 81,000), c.110 ...
- Seychelles - Seychelles Profile: Geography, People, History, Government and Political Conditions, Economy, Defense, Foreign Relations, U.S.-Seychelles Relations
- Seychelles - Map of Seychelles & articles on flags, geography, history, statistics, disasters current events, and international relations.
- Mahé, Seychelles - Mahé, island, Seychelles: Mahé, island, Seychelles: see Seychelles.
- Seychelles: Bibliography - Bibliography See M. Franda, The Seychelles (1982).
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