Seychelles
Seychelles leads Africa in human development index. With 0.848, it sets the regional standard. Discover what makes it the regional champion.
Seychelles is a country in Africa with a population of 98.2K and an area of 452 km². Life expectancy is 75.0 years.
At a Glance
The numbers that define this country
Population Density
260.376How many people live in each square kilometer of land.
Human Development Index
0.85The Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
CO2 Per Capita
5.00How many tonnes of CO2 the average person produces per year.
GDP Per Capita
$29.2KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
GDP Per Capita (PPP)
33.2KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
Internet Users (%)
87.0%The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
Where They Stand Out
Global rankings worth knowing
🌱Protected Land (%)
68.1%The percentage of land area designated as protected natural reserves or parks.
🍻Beer Consumption
4.90How many liters of beer the average adult (15+) drinks per year.
🌱Forest Coverage (%)
73.3%The percentage of land covered by forests - natural or planted trees at least 5 meters tall (excludes orchards and urban parks).
📡Mobile Subscriptions (%)
184.904The number of mobile phone subscriptions per 100 people.
💰FDI Inflows (% GDP)
10.4%Foreign investment flowing into the country as a percentage of GDP.
Did You Know?
Facts that catch players off guard
Ranks #1 globally in protected land (%)
Protected Land (%): 68.1%
The percentage of land area designated as protected natural reserves or parks.
World Bank 2023Ranks #7 globally in beer consumption
Beer Consumption: 4.90
How many liters of beer the average adult (15+) drinks per year.
Our World in Data 2023Only ranks #169 in active military personnel
Active Military Personnel: 500
Military and security service personnel strengths from CIA World Factbook.
Has one of the highest rates of inflation rate
Inflation Rate: 0.3%
How much prices increased over the year, based on the cost of everyday goods and services.
World Bank 2023Ranks #12 globally in forest coverage (%)
Forest Coverage (%): 73.3%
The percentage of land covered by forests - natural or planted trees at least 5 meters tall (excludes orchards and urban parks).
World Bank 2023Surprised? See how you stack up.
Play NowHow Seychelles Compares
Country vs continent vs world averages
GDP per Capita
Above avgGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
World Bank 2023Life Expectancy
Above avgHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
World Bank 2023Human Development Index
Above avgThe Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
Our World in Data 2023Internet Users
Above avgThe percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
World Bank 2023Think you can guess which countries rank higher?
Test Your IntuitionAbout Seychelles
Seychelles was uninhabited before Europeans discovered the islands early in the 16th century. After a lengthy struggle, France eventually ceded control of the islands to Great Britain in 1814. During colonial rule, a plantation-based economy developed that relied on imported labor, primarily from European colonies in Africa. Seychelles gained independence in 1976 through negotiations with Great Britain. In 1977, Prime Minister France-Albert RENE launched a coup against the country’s first president, and Seychelles became a socialist one-party state until adopting a new constitution and holding elections in 1993. RENE continued to lead Seychelles through two election cycles until he stepped down in 2004. Vice President James Alix MICHEL took over the presidency and in 2006 was elected to a new five-year term; he was reelected in 2011 and again in 2015. In 2016, James MICHEL resigned and handed over the presidency to his vice-president, Danny FAURE. In 2020, Wavel RAMKALAWAN was elected president, the first time an opposition candidate has won the presidency.
- Location
- archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar
- Climate
- tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May)
- 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
- Natural Resources
- fish, coconuts (copra), cinnamon trees
- Natural Hazards
- lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; occasional short droughts
- Size Comparison
- 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
- Languages
- Seychellois Creole (official) 89.1%, English (official) 5.1%, French (official) 0.7%, other 3.8%, unspecified 1.4% (2010 est.)
- Religions
- Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 10.5% (Anglican 6.1%, Pentecostal Assembly 1.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.2%, other Protestant 1.7%), other Christian 2.4%, Hindu 2.4%, Muslim 1.6%, other non-Christian 1.1%, unspecified 4.8%, none 0.9% (2010 est.)
- Ethnic Groups
- predominantly Creole (mainly of East African and Malagasy heritage); also French, Indian, Chinese, and Arab populations
- Major Cities
- 28,000 VICTORIA (capital) (2018)
- Government Type
- presidential republic
- Capital
- Victoria
- Capital Coordinates
- 4 37 S, 55 27 E
- Capital Timezone
- UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Official Name
- Republic of Seychelles
- Name Origin
- 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
- Independence
- 29 June 1976 (from the UK)
- National Symbols
- coco de mer (sea coconut)
- National Anthem
- "Koste Seselwa" (Seychellois Unite)
- UNESCO Heritage
- 2 (both natural)
- Overview
- high-income Indian Ocean island economy; rapidly growing tourism sector; major tuna exporter; offshore financial hub; environmentally fragile and investing in ocean rise mitigation; recently discovered offshore oil potential; successful anticorruption efforts
- Industries
- fishing, tourism, beverages
- Agricultural Products
- coconuts, vegetables, bananas, eggs, chicken, pork, fruits, tomatoes, tropical fruits, cassava (2023)
- Export Partners
- France 20%, Mauritius 12%, UK 9%, Japan 8%, Italy 8% (2023)
- Export Commodities
- fish, scrap iron, animal meal, broadcasting equipment, ships (2023)
- Import Partners
- UAE 32%, Spain 10%, France 6%, South Africa 6%, India 6% (2023)
- Import Commodities
- refined petroleum, fish, ships, cars, plastic products (2023)
- Military Forces
- Seychelles People's Defense Forces (SPDF; aka Seychelles Defense Forces, SDF): Army (includes infantry, special forces, and a presidential security unit), Coast Guard, and Air Force Ministry of Internal Affairs: Seychelles Police Force (2025)
- Military Service
- 18-35 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2026)
- Energy Mix
- fossil fuels: 86.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); solar: 12.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); wind: 1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- Broadcast Media
- state-run national broadcaster Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) has the only terrestrial TV station, which also airs broadcasts from international services; privately owned Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) channel; multi-channel cable and satellite TV available through 2 providers; SBC operates 1 AM and 1 FM radio station; 2 privately operated radio stations; transmissions of 2 international broadcasters available in Victoria (2019)
Deep Dive
62 of 76 metricsEvery stat we track, organized by category
Related Countries
Mayotte
Comoros
Mauritius
SomaliaCountries with Similar GDP
Antigua and Barbuda
Belarus
Curaçao
Montenegro
SerbiaCompare Seychelles with...
More Africa Countries
Algeria
Angola
Benin
Botswana
Bouvet Island
Burkina FasoShare a Fact
Share something surprising about Seychelles!
How many people live in each square kilometer of land.
Frequently Asked Questions about Seychelles
Seychelles has a population of 98.2K, ranking #195 globally by population.
Seychelles is located in Africa. It has an area of 452 km².
Life expectancy in Seychelles is 75.0 years, ranking #103 globally.
Seychelles's GDP per capita (PPP) is 33.2K, ranking #73 globally.
Seychelles ranks particularly high in Population Density (#48), Human Development Index (#54), CO2 Per Capita (#68).
Seychelles has an HDI of 0.848, ranking #54 globally. The HDI combines life expectancy, education, and income indicators.
Seychelles has a population density of 260.4 people per km², ranking #48 globally.
Think you know Seychelles?
Compare countries, guess statistics, and prove you know your stuff.