Seychelles

Cultural Attributes

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Holidays

• Constitution Day

  6/18

  Independence

  National Day

Dates of Interest

• June 5th

  Liberation Day commemorates the day when Seychelles was liberated from one-party rule in 1993, leading to the establishment of a multi-party democracy. The holiday is observed with various events, including speeches, concerts, and community gatherings.

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Historical Eras

Overview

Timeline of Key Events

1. 1502

   Portugal’s Vasco da Gama explores the Seychelles.

   Portugal’s Vasco da Gama explores the Seychelles.

2. 1768

   French planters and their slaves begin settling in the Seychelles.

   French planters and their slaves begin settling in the Seychelles.

3. 1794

   Britain annexes the Seychelles, which are then administered from Mauritius.

   Britain annexes the Seychelles, which are then administered from Mauritius.

4. 1903

   Seychelles become a separate British colony.

   Seychelles become a separate British colony.

5. 1976

   Seychelles become independent.

   Seychelles become independent and are governed by a coalition, with James Mancham as president and France Rene as prime minister.

6. 2006

   Parliament bans political or religious organizations from running radio stations.

   Parliament bans political or religious organizations from running radio stations, sparking a rare outbreak of unrest.

7. 2009

   Somali pirates move their operations southwards to Seychelles.

   Somali pirates move their operations southwards to Seychelles and beyond as patrols are stepped up in the Gulf of Aden.

Religion

Languages Spoken

• Creole
• English
• French

Population

Population

119,770

Population in Major Urban Areas

VICTORIA (capital) 27,000

Nationality Noun

Seychellois (singular and plural)

Ethnic Groups

mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab

Education

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Health Information

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth in Seychelles stands among the highest on the African continent, reflecting the island nation's relatively strong healthcare infrastructure, stable economy, and accessible public health services. As of the most recent estimates, the average life expectancy at birth is approximately 74 to 75 years overall, with women typically living longer than men — around 79 years for females compared to roughly 70 to 71 years for males. This gender gap mirrors global trends and is influenced by factors such as higher rates of lifestyle-related illnesses among men, including cardiovascular disease and greater tobacco and alcohol consumption. Non-communicable diseases represent the primary health challenge in Seychelles today, with heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension among the leading causes of mortality. Seychelles benefits from a universal public healthcare system that provides residents with access to primary care, hospitalization, and maternal health services at little to no direct cost. The country has successfully reduced infant and child mortality over recent decades, which has contributed meaningfully to gains in overall life expectancy. Maternal mortality rates are also low by regional standards, further supporting longer average lifespans. The government has invested consistently in health promotion, disease prevention, and the expansion of medical facilities across its main islands of Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue. The Victoria Hospital on Mahé serves as the central referral facility, while community health centers extend coverage to more remote populations. Nutrition and diet also play a role in health outcomes. The traditional Seychellois diet, rich in fish and vegetables, carries some protective qualities, though increasing consumption of processed foods has introduced new dietary risk factors in recent years, contributing to rising rates of obesity and related chronic conditions. Compared to sub-Saharan African averages, which typically fall below 65 years, Seychelles performs notably well. Its life expectancy figures are more comparable to those seen in parts of the Caribbean or Southeast Asia — regions with similar income levels and tourism-driven economies. Continued investment in preventive healthcare and chronic disease management will be essential to sustaining and improving these outcomes in the decades ahead.

Infant Mortality Rate

Seychelles has achieved remarkably low infant mortality rates by African and developing-nation standards, reflecting the archipelago nation's sustained investment in public health infrastructure, maternal care, and child welfare services over recent decades. As of the most recent available data, the infant mortality rate in Seychelles stands at approximately 10 to 12 deaths per 1,000 live births. This figure places Seychelles among the top-performing nations on the African continent and compares favorably with many middle-income countries globally. For context, the average infant mortality rate across Sub-Saharan Africa remains well above 50 deaths per 1,000 live births, making Seychelles a clear regional outlier in terms of child health outcomes. Several factors contribute to this relatively favorable statistic. Seychelles operates a universal healthcare system that provides free or heavily subsidized medical services to its citizens, including prenatal care, skilled birth attendance, and postnatal follow-up. The vast majority of births in Seychelles take place in properly equipped medical facilities attended by trained healthcare professionals, significantly reducing risks associated with delivery complications. Immunization coverage in Seychelles is consistently high, with childhood vaccination programs targeting diseases such as measles, diphtheria, tetanus, and polio achieving near-universal reach across the island population. The country's small geographic size and relatively concentrated population make it easier to deliver health services equitably compared to larger continental nations. Access to clean drinking water and improved sanitation facilities is widespread throughout the main islands of Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue, reducing infant exposure to waterborne diseases that remain leading causes of infant death in many developing regions. Despite these achievements, health authorities continue to monitor neonatal mortality — deaths occurring within the first 28 days of life — as a particular area of focus, since this window remains the most vulnerable period for newborns even in well-resourced health systems. Ongoing efforts to improve neonatal intensive care capacity and public health education aim to drive the infant mortality rate further downward in the coming years.

Life Expectancy

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth in Seychelles stands among the highest on the African continent, reflecting the island nation's relatively strong healthcare infrastructure, stable economy, and accessible public health services. As of the most recent estimates, the average life expectancy at birth is approximately 74 to 75 years overall, with women typically living longer than men — around 79 years for females compared to roughly 70 to 71 years for males. This gender gap mirrors global trends and is influenced by factors such as higher rates of lifestyle-related illnesses among men, including cardiovascular disease and greater tobacco and alcohol consumption. Non-communicable diseases represent the primary health challenge in Seychelles today, with heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension among the leading causes of mortality. Seychelles benefits from a universal public healthcare system that provides residents with access to primary care, hospitalization, and maternal health services at little to no direct cost. The country has successfully reduced infant and child mortality over recent decades, which has contributed meaningfully to gains in overall life expectancy. Maternal mortality rates are also low by regional standards, further supporting longer average lifespans. The government has invested consistently in health promotion, disease prevention, and the expansion of medical facilities across its main islands of Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue. The Victoria Hospital on Mahé serves as the central referral facility, while community health centers extend coverage to more remote populations. Nutrition and diet also play a role in health outcomes. The traditional Seychellois diet, rich in fish and vegetables, carries some protective qualities, though increasing consumption of processed foods has introduced new dietary risk factors in recent years, contributing to rising rates of obesity and related chronic conditions. Compared to sub-Saharan African averages, which typically fall below 65 years, Seychelles performs notably well. Its life expectancy figures are more comparable to those seen in parts of the Caribbean or Southeast Asia — regions with similar income levels and tourism-driven economies. Continued investment in preventive healthcare and chronic disease management will be essential to sustaining and improving these outcomes in the decades ahead.

Infant Mortality Rate

Seychelles has achieved remarkably low infant mortality rates by African and developing-nation standards, reflecting the archipelago nation's sustained investment in public health infrastructure, maternal care, and child welfare services over recent decades. As of the most recent available data, the infant mortality rate in Seychelles stands at approximately 10 to 12 deaths per 1,000 live births. This figure places Seychelles among the top-performing nations on the African continent and compares favorably with many middle-income countries globally. For context, the average infant mortality rate across Sub-Saharan Africa remains well above 50 deaths per 1,000 live births, making Seychelles a clear regional outlier in terms of child health outcomes. Several factors contribute to this relatively favorable statistic. Seychelles operates a universal healthcare system that provides free or heavily subsidized medical services to its citizens, including prenatal care, skilled birth attendance, and postnatal follow-up. The vast majority of births in Seychelles take place in properly equipped medical facilities attended by trained healthcare professionals, significantly reducing risks associated with delivery complications. Immunization coverage in Seychelles is consistently high, with childhood vaccination programs targeting diseases such as measles, diphtheria, tetanus, and polio achieving near-universal reach across the island population. The country's small geographic size and relatively concentrated population make it easier to deliver health services equitably compared to larger continental nations. Access to clean drinking water and improved sanitation facilities is widespread throughout the main islands of Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue, reducing infant exposure to waterborne diseases that remain leading causes of infant death in many developing regions. Despite these achievements, health authorities continue to monitor neonatal mortality — deaths occurring within the first 28 days of life — as a particular area of focus, since this window remains the most vulnerable period for newborns even in well-resourced health systems. Ongoing efforts to improve neonatal intensive care capacity and public health education aim to drive the infant mortality rate further downward in the coming years.

Country Identity

Country Name

Seychelles

Full Country Name

Republic of Seychelles

Local - Short

Seychelles

Government Structure

Government Type

republic

Legal System

based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Wavel RAMKALAWAN (since 26 October 2020); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Wavel RAMKALAWAN (since 26 October 2020); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held on 22-24 October 2020 (next to be held in 2025) election results: Wavel RAMKALAWAN elected president; percent of vote - Wavel RAMKALAWAN (LDS) 54.9%, Danny FAURE (US) 43.5%, other candidates 1.6%; the 2020 election marked a historic transfer of power, ending nearly five decades of uninterrupted rule by the People's Party (formerly SPPF) and its predecessors

Legislative Branch

Unicameral National Assembly or Assemblée Nationale (35 seats — 26 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, and up to 9 seats allocated on a proportional basis to parties winning at least 10% of the national vote; members serve five-year terms) Elections: last held on 22–24 October 2020 (next to be held in 2025) Election results: percent of vote by party — LDS 54.8%, US 42.3%, other 2.9%; seats by party — LDS 25, US 10

Judicial Branch

Court of Appeal; Supreme Court; judges for both courts are appointed by the president

Suffrage

17 years of age; universal

Constitution

18-Jun-93

Independence

29 June 1976 (from UK)

National Holiday

Constitution Day (National Day), 18 June (1993)

Capital City

Capital Name

Victoria

Capital - geographic coordinate

4 37 S, 55 27 E

Capital Time Difference

UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Military

Branches: Seychelles Defense Force: Army, Coast Guard (includes Naval Wing, Air Wing), National Guard

Embassy / Diplomatic Mission

Snapshot

Currency Name and Code

Seychellese Rupee (SCR)

GDP — official exchange rate

$722,000,000 (USD)

GDP Real Growth Rate

8.9%