National Identity
- Official name
- Republic of Seychelles
- Official name (in Seychellois Creole)
- Repiblik Sesel
- Official name (in French)
- République des Seychelles
- Name etymology
named by French Captain Corneille Nicholas MORPHEY after Jean Moreau de SÉCHELLES, the finance minister of France, in 1756; the British changed the spelling of the name in 1815 when they acquired the islands
Sources:- The Constitution of the Third Republic of Seychelles ↗ - The National Assembly of Seychelles
- The World Factbook: Seychelles - CIA
- Coat of arms
- National flag
As published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora of the Republic of Seychelles 2.2.1 The National Flag is made up of five oblique bands of blue, yellow, red, white and green, radiating from the bottom of the hoist side of the flag. [...] 2.2.3 The proportions of the blue, yellow and red colours along the top length of the flag is at a ratio of 1:1:1. This is the same for the red, white, green colours on the fly side.
As published in EnglishAs published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora of the Republic of Seychelles The oblique bands symbolise a dynamic country moving into the future.
2.2.2 The representations of the colours of the bands are given below:
2.2.2.1 Blue: represents the sky and the sea that surrounds us. 2.2.2.2 Yellow: represents the sun which gives light and life. 2.2.2.3 Red: represents the people and their determination to work for the future in unity and love. 2.2.2.4 White: represents social justice and harmony. 2.2.2.5 Green: represents the land and natural environment.
As published in EnglishAs published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora of the Republic of Seychelles 2.1.1 The Seychelles National Flag of the Third Republic (hereinafter referred to as the National Flag), was designed and conceptualised by Mr. Philippe Uzice in 1996.
2.1.2 The National Flag is the product of a nationwide competition launched in 1996, with the aim of creating new symbols which would better represent the Third Republic.
2.1.3 The current National Flag is the third Seychelles National Flag since the country gained its independence on 29 June 1976.
As published in EnglishAs published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora of the Republic of Seychelles Seychelles National Flags from 1976 to now
June 1976 - June 1977
June 1977 - June 1996
June 1996 - Current
As published in EnglishSource:- mfa.gov.sc ↗ - the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora of the Republic of Seychelles
- National anthem
- Koste Seselwa1:07
- Title (in Seychellois Creole)
- Koste Seselwa
- Title (in English, translated)
- Seychellois Unite
- Lyrics
Sesel ou menm nou sel patri Kot nou viv dan larmoni Lazwa, lanmour ek lape Nou remersye Bon Dye Prezerv labote nou pei Larises nou losean En leritaz byen presye Pou boner nou zanfan Reste touzour dan linite Fer monte nou paviyon Ansanm pou tou leternite Koste Seselwa!
Source: - Citizens
- Seychellois
- Official name:The Constitution of the Third Republic of Seychelles ↗ - The National Assembly of Seychelles
- Official name, Citizens:The World Factbook: Seychelles - CIA
- National flag:mfa.gov.sc ↗ - the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora of the Republic of Seychelles
- National anthem:nationalanthems.info ↗
Geography
- Location
- archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar
- Total area
- 455 km²
- Land area
- 455 km²
- Water area
- 0.00 km²
- Land borders
- None
- Coastline
- 491 km
- Terrain
Mahe Group is volcanic with a narrow coastal strip and rocky, hilly interior; others are relatively flat coral atolls, or elevated reefs; sits atop the submarine Mascarene Plateau - Highest point
- 905 mMorne Seychellois
- Lowest point
- 0 mIndian Ocean
- Climate
Tropical marine humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May) - Avg. temperature
- 26.3 °C
- Avg. daily range
- 25.6 to 26.8 °C
- Annual precipitation
- 1,391 mm
Temperature °CMeanDaily rangePrecipitation mmMonthly climate normals Month Avg. high, °C Mean, °C Avg. low, °C Precipitation, mm January 27.4 26.8 26 204 February 27.8 27.2 26.4 129 March 28 27.4 26.5 142 April 28.1 27.5 26.6 131 May 27.5 27 26.2 116 June 26.2 25.8 25.2 76 July 25.3 24.9 24.4 55 August 25.2 24.8 24.3 57 September 25.7 25.2 24.7 86 October 26.3 25.9 25.2 96 November 26.9 26.4 25.7 116 December 27.3 26.6 25.8 183 Country-wide averages over 1991–2020.
Sources:- The World Factbook: Seychelles - CIA
- Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Weather
- Loading
- Land use2023
- Arable0.3%Perm. crops3.0%Forest58.6%Other38.0%
- Arable land
- 150 hectares (0.3%)
- Permanent crops
- 1,400 hectares (3.0%)
- Forest
- 26,956 hectares (58.6%)
- Other land
- 17,494 hectares (38.0%)
Source: - Natural hazards2026
- Tsunamis7.8Very high#16/191Epidemics2.9Low#161/191Earthquakes0.1Very low#127/191River floods0.0Very lowTropical cyclones0.0Very lowCoastal floods0.0Very lowDrought0.0Very low
Scores out of 10, ranks out of 191 countries.
Source:- INFORM Risk Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Location, Land borders, Coastline, Terrain, Highest point, Lowest point, Climate:The World Factbook: Seychelles - CIA
- Climate:Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5 reanalysis) ↗ - World Bank
- Land use:FAOSTAT Land Use domain ↗ - FAO
- Natural hazards:INFORM Risk Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
Demographics
- Population change2026
- +1.64% per year+2,180 people/yearWorld Rank64thof 237
- Birth rate
- 13.2 per 1,000 population
- Death rate
- 8.1 per 1,000 population
- Net migration rate
- +10.1 per 1,000 population
- 2026
- 34.6 yearsWorld Rank110thof 237
- Age structure2026
- 0-14 years19.6%15-64 years71.4%65 years +9.0%
- Share aged 65 and over
- 9.0%
- Share aged under 18
- 23.3%
- Total dependency ratio
- 40
- Youth dependency ratio
- 27
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 13
- Sex ratio
- 1.22 male / female
MaleAgeFemalePopulation by age group, % of total population Age Male Female 80+ 0.5% 0.9% 70-79 1.8% 2.0% 60-69 4.3% 4.4% 50-59 6.5% 5.5% 40-49 9.7% 6.3% 30-39 11.2% 7.1% 20-29 7.8% 6.2% 10-19 6.4% 6.2% 0-9 6.8% 6.5% - 2026
- 0.04 below the replacement level for Seychelles ()2.06 births per womanreplacement 2.10123World Rank107thof 237
- 0.99 daughters per woman0.01 below replacement, long-run each generation smaller than the lastreplacement 1.000.511.5
- 2026
- +5.1 per 1,000 populationfor every 1,000 people, 5.1 more births than deaths a year
- 2026
- +10.1 per 1,000 population
- Urbanization2026
- 45.7% live in 61,644 urban residents
- Largest places2022
- Victoria, Cascade, Anse Étoile, PerseveranceRankPlacePopulation (2022 census)1Victoria29,6642Cascade7,2633Anse Étoile6,5554Perseverance6,2095Au Cap5,9746Beau Vallon5,6037Anse Boileau5,3828Baie Sainte Anne5,0639Anse Royale5,04610Bel Ombre4,829Source:
- National Statistics Bureau, Seychelles (2022 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution
- More than three quarters of the population lives on the main island of Mahe; Praslin is home to less than 10%, and a smaller percentage is on La Digue and the outer islands.
- Ethnic groups
- Predominantly Creole, mainly of East African and Malagasy heritage, with French, Indian, Chinese and Arab communities.
- Religions2010
- Roman Catholic76.2%Protestant10.5%Other Christian2.4%Hindu2.4%Muslim1.6%Other non-Christian1.1%Unspecified4.8%None0.9%
- Protestant
- 10.5%
- Anglican
- 6.1%
- Pentecostal Assembly
- 1.5%
- Seventh Day Adventist
- 1.2%
- Other Protestant
- 1.7%
Source:- The World Factbook: Seychelles - CIA
- Languages
- Seychellois Creole (Kreol Seselwa), English, French (Français)
- Population, Population change, Median age, Age structure, Total fertility rate, Net reproduction rate, Natural change, Net migration rate:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Urbanization:UN World Urbanization Prospects ↗
- Largest cities:National Statistics Bureau, Seychelles (2022 census), via City Population by Thomas Brinkhoff ↗
- Population distribution, Ethnic groups, Religions:The World Factbook: Seychelles - CIA
Government & Administration
- Form of state
- RepublicThe President, who is Head of State, Head of Government and Commander-in-Chief, is directly elected by secret ballot; the Constitution declares Seychelles "a sovereign democratic Republic" (Arts. 1, 50; Sch. 3, para. 1).Source:
- Constitution of the Republic of Seychelles, Chapter 42, Laws of Seychelles, revised up to August 2018 ↗, Arts. 1, 50; Sch. 3, para. 1
- System of government
- PresidentialThe President appoints ministers with a National Assembly majority's approval, and they answer individually to the President, not the Assembly; the President may dissolve the Assembly at discretion once per term, and it may dissolve itself by two-thirds (Arts. 69, 71, 110, 111).Source:
- Territorial organisation
- Unitary
- Official websites
- Capital
- Victoria29,664 people(2022)
- National holidays
- 14 days in 2026
- ThuJan 1New Year's Day
- FriJan 2New Year Holiday
- FriApr 3Good Friday
- SatApr 4Easter Saturday
- MonApr 6Easter Monday
- FriMay 1Labor Day
- ThuJun 4Corpus Christi
- ThuJun 18Constitution Day
- MonJun 29Independence (National) Day
- SatAug 15Assumption Day
- SunNov 1All Saints' Day
- MonNov 2All Saints' Day (observed)
- TueDec 8Immaculate Conception
- FriDec 25Christmas Day
Nationwide public holidays only, excluding regional, bank and government-only days.
- Time
- SCTSeychelles TimeUTC+4
- Currency
- Seychellois Rupee (SCR)
- Entry requirements
- Official visa and entry information
- Calling code
- +248
- Internet TLD
- .sc
- ISO 3166-1 codes
- SC, SYC
- Infrastructure
- Passengers carried
- 236,917 by the country's airlines(2023)
- Heliports
- 6
- Aircraft departures
- 12,934 by the country's airlines(2023)
- Air freight
- 1.2 million tonne-km(2023)
- Aircraft registration prefix
- S7
Sources:- The World Factbook: Seychelles - CIA
- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Flag carrier
- Air SeychellesState-owned
- 2025
- 68 / 100World Rank24thof 182
Significant improverUp 16 points since 2012, when it scored 52.
Confidence intervalCorruption index score by year Year Score Lower bound Upper bound 2012 52 38 65 2013 54 41 67 2014 55 41 69 2015 55 41 69 2017 60 46 74 2018 66 61 71 2019 66 60.4 71.6 2020 66 61.1 70.9 2021 70 67.8 72.2 2022 70 67.1 72.9 2023 71 70.4 71.6 2024 72 65.5 78.5 2025 68 64.1 71.9 Source:- Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 ↗ - Transparency International, CC BY 4.0
- Form of state, System of government, Territorial organisation:Constitution of the Republic of Seychelles, Chapter 42, Laws of Seychelles, revised up to August 2018 ↗ - Judiciary of Seychelles
- National holidays:Open World Holidays Framework (vacanza/holidays) ↗
- Infrastructure:The World Factbook: Seychelles - CIA
- Infrastructure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Corruption Perceptions Index:Corruption Perceptions Index 2025 ↗ - Transparency International, CC BY 4.0
Economy
- High income
- GDP growth (real)2026
- +1% per yearWorld Rank165thof 195
- GDP per capita (PPP)2026
- GDP per capita (nominal)
- $19,157 (69th in the world)
Source:- 2025
- Services67.9% of GDPIndustry14.3% of GDPAgriculture2.6% of GDPManufacturing5.4%part of industry
- Households
- +69.3%
- Government
- +25.1%
- Investment
- +18.7%
- Exports
- +79.6%
- Imports
- −92.7%
The shape of the economyGDP by end useSource:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Inflation2026
- 0.9%up 0.6 percentage points0.6pp from 2025
- Budget balance2026
- 1.9% of GDP deficit
- Current account
- 8.5% of GDP, $201 million deficit
Source: - Debt2024
- Central government debt57.8% of GDPInterest on debt3.1% of GDP
- Trade2024
- Goods$594.5 million25.8%
- Services$1.7 billion74.2%
- Total exports
- $2.3 billion
- Change from 2023
- down 3.9 percent on the previous year3.9%
Sources:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- The World Factbook: Seychelles - CIA
- Agricultural products2024
- Coconuts (in shell), Hen eggs in shell (fresh), Bananas, and 5 more
- 1Coconuts (in shell)65.2×
- 2Hen eggs in shell (fresh)14.6×
- 3Bananas10.4×
- 4Meat of chickens (fresh or chilled)4.2×
- 5Meat of pig with the bone (fresh or chilled)3.9×
- 6Tomatoes1.7×
- 7Cassava (fresh)0.5×
- 8Raw milk of cattle0.1×
ProductSource:- FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Industries
- fishing, tourism, beverages
- Income level, GDP by sector, Trade:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- GDP (nominal), GDP growth (real), GDP per capita (PPP), Inflation, Budget balance:IMF World Economic Outlook ↗
- Debt:IMF Global Debt Database ↗
- Debt:IMF Public Finances in Modern History ↗
- Trade, Industries:The World Factbook: Seychelles - CIA
- Agricultural products:FAOSTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
Cost of Living
- Average gross salary2022
- SCR 14,972 per month$1,049 (USD), $1,603 (PPP)
- 2024
- SCR 6,628 per month, gross$456 (USD), $766 (PPP)
- Average gross salary, Minimum wage:ILOSTAT ↗ - International Labour Organization
Society
- 2023
- 0.848Very highWorld Rank54thof 193SeychellesWorld
Human Development Index by year Year Seychelles World 2010 0.758 0.707 2011 0.772 0.713 2012 0.797 0.717 2013 0.797 0.721 2014 0.814 0.726 2015 0.819 0.731 2016 0.836 0.735 2017 0.844 0.739 2018 0.847 0.741 2019 0.850 0.745 2020 0.853 0.742 2021 0.838 0.742 2022 0.836 0.752 2023 0.848 0.756 Source:- Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- 2018
- 32.1
- Mean years of schooling2023
- 11.2 years
- Expected for a child today
- 18.2 years
Source:- Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Literacy2010latest available
- 93.9% of adults
- Education expenditure2023
- 4.5% of GDP
- Share of government spending
- 12.7%
Source:- World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Internet users2024
- 87.8% of the population
- Households with Internet access
- 74.2%
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Mobile subscriptions2024
- 163,827
- Fixed telephone lines
- 16,166
- Fixed broadband
- 31.6 subscriptions per 100 people
Counts subscriptions, not people.
Source:- ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Inbound tourists2022
- Official tourism site332,000 arrivalsdown 14% against 201914% below 2019World Rank111thof 139
- Per resident
- 2.6 arrivals per resident
- Same-day visitors
- 6,500 arrivals
- $1 billion(2023)
- Residents' trips abroad
- 51,000 overnight trips
- $111.6 million(2023)
- Hotel beds
- 14,626
- Average hotel stay
- 8.3 nights
Overnight arrivals by year2010 to 2022A tourist stays at least one night. Arrivals count trips, not people.
Source:- UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- 2 sites2 natural
Site Aldabra Atoll Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve Source:- The World Factbook: Seychelles - CIA
- Human Development Index, Mean years of schooling:Human Development Report ↗ - United Nations Development Programme
- Income inequality (Gini), Education expenditure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Literacy:UIS Data Browser ↗ - UNESCO Institute for Statistics
- Internet users, Mobile subscriptions:ITU DataHub ↗ - International Telecommunication Union
- Inbound tourists:UN Tourism Data Dashboard ↗ - UN Tourism
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites:The World Factbook: Seychelles - CIA
Crime & Safety
- Travel advisory (US)
- Loading
- Active humanitarian crisisAug 2026
- None - no active crisis
- Homicide rate2022
- 8 per 100,000 peopleMedium by global standards
- Crime rates
- 1 offence category
Offence Per 100,000 Count Year Homicide (victims) 8.0 10 2022 A low figure can also mean weak recording.
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Prison population2022
- 252.5 per 100,000 people
- Persons held
- 317
Source:- UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
- Active humanitarian crisis:INFORM Severity Index ↗ - European Commission Joint Research Centre
- Homicide rate, Crime rates, Prison population:UNODC Data Portal ↗ - UN Office on Drugs and Crime
Health
- Life expectancy2026
- 73.3 years
- Health expenditure2023
- 4.5% of GDP$766 per person
- Physicians2022
- 6.6 per 1,000 population
- Hospital beds2023
- 2.6 per 1,000 population
- Infant mortality2026
- 9.7 per 1,000 live births
- Maternal mortality2023
- 42 per 100,000 live births
- Alcohol consumption2022
- 11.4 litres of pure alcohol per adult per year
- Tobacco use2023
- 17.6% of adults
- Men
- 30.7%
- Women
- 4.4%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Road traffic deaths2019
- 11.3 per 100,000 population
- Life expectancy, Infant mortality:UN World Population Prospects ↗
- Health expenditure, Physicians, Hospital beds, Road traffic deaths:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Maternal mortality:Maternal mortality estimates ↗ - UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-agency Group
- Alcohol consumption, Tobacco use:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
Environment
- CO₂ emissions2024
- 0.88 Mt per yearup 4.6 percent on the previous year4.6% from 2023
- CO₂ per capita
- 9 t per personWorld Rank28thof 207
- Share of global CO₂
- < 0.01%
- Methane (CH₄)
- 0.07 Mt CO₂-eq
- Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
- 0.02 Mt CO₂-eq
- All greenhouse gases
- 0.98 Mt CO₂-eq
Source:- Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- 2024
- 3.8 µg/m³ of PM2.5Most polluted195thof 236
- WHO guideline
- 5 µg/m³
Source:- Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues
- limited freshwater resources
- water pollution
- biodiversity
- International agreements
- 19 of 20 landmark treaties in forceParty to 68 multilateral environmental agreements
Treaty Standing Joined Climate Paris Agreement in force 2016 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in force 1994 Kyoto Protocol in force 2005 Ozone layer Montreal Protocol in force 1993 Vienna Convention (Ozone Layer) in force 1993 Biodiversity Convention on Biological Diversity in force 1993 CITES in force 1977 Convention on Migratory Species (Bonn) in force 2005 Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety in force 2004 Nagoya Protocol in force 2014 Land and heritage Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in force 2005 World Heritage Convention in force 1980 UN Convention to Combat Desertification in force 1997 Chemicals and waste Basel Convention in force 1993 Rotterdam Convention (PIC) signed 1998, not ratified Stockholm Convention (POPs) in force 2008 Minamata Convention on Mercury in force 2017 Oceans UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in force 1994 High Seas Treaty (BBNJ) in force 2026 MARPOL 73/78 in force 1991 Source:- International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
- CO₂ emissions:Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR) ↗ - European Commission, Joint Research Centre
- Air pollution:Air Quality Life Index ↗ - Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
- Environmental issues:The World Factbook: Seychelles - CIA
- International agreements:International Environmental Agreements Database ↗ - Université Laval
Food & Water
- No access to safe drinking water2022
- 4.3% of the population
- Renewable water2022
- 0 billion m³ per year
- Per person
- 0 m³ per year
- Dependency ratio
- 0% originates outside the country
- Annual water withdrawal
- 0 billion m³ per year
- Withdrawn for agriculture
- 7%
Source:- AQUASTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Undernourishment2022
- 4.3% of the population
- Obesity2024
- 33.9% of adults
- Men
- 25.1%
- Women
- 44.9%
Source:- Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Underweight children2012
- 3.8% of children under five
- No access to safe drinking water, Renewable water:AQUASTAT ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Undernourishment:Food security indicators (FAOSTAT) ↗ - Food and Agriculture Organization
- Obesity:Global Health Observatory ↗ - World Health Organization
- Underweight children:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
Energy
- Energy consumption2024
- Per capita
- 113.8 GJ per person
- Share of world total
- < 0.01%
- Supply
- Deficitproduces 2.3% of what it consumes, 2024
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Electricity2024
- No electricity trade0.6 TWh generated per year
- Generation
- 0.6 TWh per year
- Consumption
- 0.6 TWh per year
Source:- International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
- Oil, gas & coal
- No domestic productionconsumes 6,476 b/d in 2024Consumption20246,476 b/d
Oil imports and exports count crude oil only.
- Energy consumption, Electricity, Oil, gas & coal:International Energy Statistics ↗ - U.S. Energy Information Administration
Defense
- Military expenditure2024
- 1.2% of GDP$26.9 million, 3.4% of government spending
- Military personnel2025
- approximately 500active Defense Forces
- Military service2026
- Voluntaryno conscription; men and women 18–35
- Nuclear weapons2026
- None - no nuclear arsenal
- Military expenditure:SIPRI Military Expenditure Database ↗ - Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
- Military expenditure:World Development Indicators ↗ - World Bank
- Military personnel, Military service:The World Factbook: Seychelles - CIA
- Nuclear weapons:Status of World Nuclear Forces ↗ - Federation of American Scientists
