Seychelles |
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The Seychelles are an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar.
Geography:
Size is 455 sq km two and a half times the size of Washington DC, US. The terrain of the Mahe Group (main islands) is granitic, with a narrow coastal strip, and rocky and hilly inland; other islands are made up of coral, flat, elevated reefs. The climate is tropical marine and often humid. The Seychelles do have a cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September) and a warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May). The Seychelles do not lie in the cyclone belt. The Sechelles lowest point is at the Indian Ocean at 0 m; its highest point is at Morne Seychellois which stands at 905 m. The Seychelles are made up of over 100 islands.
Population:
Just over 80,000 people live in the Seychelles. Life expectancy is around 72 years. Birth rate is on average 1.7 per woman. Literacy rate is just over 91%.
Languages:
Creole 91.8%, English 4.9% (official), and other 3.1%.
Ethnic Groups:
The population is mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab.
Religion:
Roman Catholic 82.3%, Anglican 6.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.1%, other Christian 3.4%, Hindu 2.1%, Muslim 1.1%, other non-Christian 1.5%, unspecified 1.5%, and none 0.6%.
Political History:
A lengthy struggle between France and Great Britain for the islands ended in 1814, when they were ceded to the latter. Independence came in 1976. Socialist rule was brought to a close with a new constitution and free elections in 1993. President France-Albert Rene, who had served since 1977, was re-elected in 2001, but stepped down in 2004. Vice President James Michel took over the presidency and in July 2006 was elected to a new five-year term.
Economic Overview:
Since independence in 1976, per capita output in this Indian Ocean archipelago has expanded to roughly seven times the old near-subsistence level. Growth has been led by the tourist sector, which employs about 30% of the labor force and provides more than 70% of hard currency earnings, and by tuna fishing. In recent years, the government has encouraged foreign investment to upgrade hotels and other services. At the same time, the government has moved to reduce the dependence on tourism by promoting the development of farming, fishing, and small-scale manufacturing. Sharp drops illustrated the vulnerability of the tourist sector in 1991-92 due largely to the Gulf War and once again following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the US. Growth slowed in 1998-2002 and fell in 2003, due to sluggish tourist and tuna sectors, but resumed in 2004. Growth turned negative again in 2005-06. Tight controls on exchange rates and the scarcity of foreign exchange have impaired short-term economic prospects. The black-market value of the Seychelles rupee is half the official exchange rate; without a devaluation of the currency, the tourist sector may remain sluggish as vacationers seek cheaper destinations such as Comoros, Mauritius, and Madagascar.
Source: CIA World Factbook
Further Reading:
Best Beaches in Africa
Travel Guide to Mauritius
Travel Guide to Madagascar
