Identity
Name origin: named by French Captain Corneille Nicholas MORPHEY after Jean Moreau de SÉCHELLES, the finance minister of France, in 1756.
CIA 2026
Data as of May 5, 2026
Seychelles
AfricaRegional Champion
Seychelles leads Africa in human development index. Discover what makes it the regional champion.
Seychelles leads Africa in human development index. With 0.848, it sets the regional standard. Discover what makes it the regional champion.
-4.6, 55.7 - Africa
Area
452 km²
Pop.
98.2K
Stats
109
Reality brief
Seychelles is a country in Africa with a population of 98.2K and an area of 452 km². Life expectancy is 75.0 years.
Short factual summary generated from the same country data used in game rounds.
Core numbers
Stats worth knowing
Fast scan first, deep dive later.
Population Density
260.38 /km²#48globally
How many people live in each square kilometer of land.
Human Development Index
0.85#54globally
Composite 0-1 index of life expectancy, education, and income, from Our World in Data using the latest available country values in TerraBrawl.
CO2 Per Capita
5.0 t/person/yr#68globally
Annual carbon dioxide emissions in tonnes per person, from Our World in Data using the latest available country values in TerraBrawl.
GDP Per Capita
$29,241.78#72globally
GDP per person adjusted for purchasing power in constant 2017 international dollars, from Our World in Data using the latest available country values in TerraBrawl.
GDP Per Capita (PPP)
$33,238.58#73globally
GDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
Internet Users (%)
87%#84globally
The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
Country briefing
Grounded facts about Seychelles
A quick real-world briefing before you dive deeper into rankings, surprises, and matchups.
Geography
Size snapshot: 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
CIA 2026
Culture
Major languages include Seychellois Creole (official) 89.1%, English (official) 5.1%, French (official) 0.7%, other 3.8%, and more.
CIA 2026
Top stats
Where They Stand Out
The strongest source-backed stats before the deeper data table.
Protected Land (%)
68.1%#1globallyTop stat
The percentage of land area designated as protected natural reserves or parks.
Beer Consumption
4.9 L/person/yr#7globallyTop stat
Liters of beer consumed per person per year, from Our World in Data using the latest available country values in TerraBrawl.
Forest Coverage (%)
73.26%#12globallyTop stat
The percentage of land covered by forests - natural or planted trees at least 5 meters tall (excludes orchards and urban parks).
Mobile Subscriptions (%)
184.9 per 100 people#12globallyTop stat
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 people, from World Bank Open Data.
FDI Inflows (% GDP)
10.43% of GDP#19globallyTop stat
Foreign direct investment net inflows as a share of GDP, from World Bank Open Data.
Reality checks
Did You Know?
The stats that tend to surprise players in real rounds.
Only ranks #170 in armed forces personnel
#1700Armed Forces Personnel
Total armed forces personnel from the World Bank latest available country value.
Keeps inflation rate unusually low
#2030.30%Inflation Rate
How much prices increased over the year, based on the cost of everyday goods and services.
Only ranks #116 in domestic patents
#1163.0Domestic Patents
How many patent applications are filed by residents each year.
Only ranks #223 in land border length
#2230 kmLand Border Length
Total length of land borders with neighboring countries from the frozen public-domain CIA World Factbook snapshot.
Only ranks #197 in dependency ratio
#19739.84% of working-age pop.Dependency Ratio
Dependents as a share of the working-age population, from World Bank Open Data.
Compared with the region
How Seychelles Compares
Country vs continent vs world averages
Seychelles
Africa avg
World avg
GDP per Capita
GDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
- Country
- $33,238.58
- Region avg
- $7,919.74
- World avg
- $31,844.55
Seychelles$33,238.58
Africa$7,919.74
World$31,844.55
+4% above worldWB 2023
Life Expectancy
How many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
- Country
- 75.0 years
- Region avg
- 65.4 years
- World avg
- 73.7 years
Seychelles75.0 years
Africa65.4 years
World73.7 years
+2% above worldWB 2023
Human Development Index
Composite 0-1 index of life expectancy, education, and income, from Our World in Data using the latest available country values in TerraBrawl.
- Country
- 0.85
- Region avg
- 0.58
- World avg
- 0.74
Seychelles0.85
Africa0.58
World0.74
+14% above worldOWID 2023
Internet Users
The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
- Country
- 87%
- Region avg
- 43.08%
- World avg
- 70.29%
Seychelles87%
Africa43.08%
World70.29%
+24% above worldWB 2023
Think you can guess which countries rank higher?
Play this countryFactbook notes
About Seychelles
Country briefing
Seychelles was uninhabited before Europeans discovered the islands early in the 16th century.
Read the full Factbook note
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.
Geography & Climate6 facts
- 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.
People & Culture4 facts
- 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 & History10 facts
- 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)
Economy & Trade7 facts
- 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)
Infrastructure & Defense4 facts
- 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)
Source:World Factbook archive 2026
Data vault
Deep Dive
Every tracked stat, grouped for fast scanning.
Environment9 statsBest: #1
Protected Land (%)
Forest Coverage (%)
CO2 Per Capita
Electricity Access (%)
Forest Area
Total CO2 Emissions
Irrigated Land
3.0 km²#175
Renewable Energy (%)
Air Pollution (PM2.5)
Lifestyle5 statsBest: #7
Technology3 statsBest: #12
Wealth & Economy8 statsBest: #19
FDI Inflows (% GDP)
Government Debt (% GDP)
GDP Per Capita
GDP Per Capita (PPP)
GDP Growth Rate
GDP (Nominal)
High-Tech Exports (%)
Inflation Rate
Health & Survival9 statsBest: #36
Doctors (per 1,000)
Obesity Rate
Hospital Beds (per 1,000)
Life Expectancy
Smoking Rate
Infant Mortality
Child Mortality
Suicide Rate
Health Spending (% GDP)
Demographics12 statsBest: #48
Population Density
Teen Birth Rate
Median Age
Death Rate
Elderly Population (%)
Youth Population (%)
Fertility Rate
Birth Rate
Urban Population (%)
Population
Land Area
Dependency Ratio
Education & Future5 statsBest: #54
Military & Defense2 statsBest: #108
Land & Sea4 statsBest: #109
Coastline Length
491 km#109
Highest Elevation
905 m#171
Lowest Elevation
0 m#170
Land Border Length
0 km#223
Society & Equality1 statsBest: #122
Women in Parliament (%)
Infrastructure2 statsBest: #133
Airports
Merchant Fleet Size
30#133
Energy1 statsBest: #178
Electric Generating Capacity
156.0K kW#178
Keep exploring
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Seychelles
#48 in Population Density
How many people live in each square kilometer of land.
Top 20% globally
260.38 /km²
Frequently Asked Questions about Seychelles
What is the population of Seychelles?
Seychelles has a population of 98.2K, ranking #195 globally by population.
What continent is Seychelles in?
Seychelles is located in Africa. It has an area of 452 km².
What is the life expectancy in Seychelles?
Life expectancy in Seychelles is 75.0 years, ranking #103 globally.
What is the GDP per capita of Seychelles?
Seychelles's GDP per capita (PPP) is $33,238.58, ranking #73 globally.
What is Seychelles known for in global statistics?
Seychelles ranks particularly high in Population Density (#48), Human Development Index (#54), CO2 Per Capita (#68).
What is Seychelles's Human Development Index?
Seychelles has an HDI of 0.848, ranking #54 globally. The HDI combines life expectancy, education, and income indicators.
How densely populated is Seychelles?
Seychelles has a population density of 260.4 people per km², ranking #48 globally.