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Independence:

29 June 1976 (from UK)

National holiday:

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

Constitution:

18 June 1993

Legal system:

based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

17 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President James Alix MICHEL (since 14 April 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government: President James MICHEL (since 14 April 2004)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for two more terms); election last held 28-30 July 2006 (next to be held in 2011)

election results: President James MICHEL elected president; percent of vote - James MICHEL 53.73%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN 45.71%, Philippe BOULLE 0.56%; note - this was the first election in which President James MICHEL participated; he was originally sworn in as president after former president France Albert RENE stepped down in April 2004

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (34 seats; 25 members elected by popular vote, 9 allocated on a proportional basis to parties winning at least 10% of the vote; to serve five-year terms)

elections: last held 10-12 May 2007 (next to be held in 2012)

election results: percent of vote by party - SPPF 56.2%, SNP 43.8%; seats by party - SPPF 23, SNP 11

Judicial branch:

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

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Party or DP [James MANCHAM, Paul CHOW]; Seychelles National Party or SNP [Wavel RAMKALAWAN] (formerly the United Opposition or UO); Seychelles People's Progressive Front or SPPF [France Albert RENE, James MICHEL] (the governing party)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Roman Catholic Church

other: trade unions

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jean Ronald JUMEAU

chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York, NY 10017

telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785

FAX: [1] (212) 972-1786

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Seychelles; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Seychelles

Flag description:

five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, and green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side

Economy Seychelles

Economy - overview:

Since independence in 1976, per capita output in this Indian Ocean archipelago has expanded to roughly seven times the pre-independence, near-subsistence level, moving the island into the upper-middle income group of countries. 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. Economic growth slowed in 1998-2002 and fell in 2003-04, due to sluggish tourist and tuna sectors, but resumed in 2005-07. Real GDP grew by 5.8% in 2007, driven by tourism and a boom in tourism-related construction. The Seychelles rupee was allowed to depreciate in 2006 after being overvalued for years and fell by 10% in the first 9 months of 2007.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.378 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$710 million (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$16,600 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.4%

industry: 25.7%

services: 71.9% (2007 est.)

Labor force:

39,560 (2006)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 3%

industry: 23%

services: 74% (2006)

Unemployment rate:

2% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.7% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

14% of GDP (2007 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $372.4 million

expenditures: $355.2 million (2007 est.)

Public debt:

144.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), bananas; poultry; tuna

Industries:

fishing, tourism, processing of coconuts and vanilla, coir (coconut fiber) rope, boat building, printing, furniture; beverages

Industrial production growth rate:

1% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production:

252 million kWh (2006)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%

hydro: 0%

nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

216.6 million kWh (2006)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2005)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2005)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2006)

Oil - consumption:

6,453 bbl/day (2006)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2006)

Oil - imports:

6,453 bbl/day (2006)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2006)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2005)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance:

-$275 million (2007 est.)

Exports:

$400 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities:

canned tuna, frozen fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (reexports)

Exports - partners:

UK 25.5%, France 17.5%, Italy 11.9%, Mauritius 8.5%, Japan 8.3%, Spain 8.2%, Netherlands 4.3% (2006)

Imports:

$720 million f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals

Imports - partners:

Saudi Arabia 17.7%, South Africa 9.7%, Spain 8.1%, France 7.8%, Singapore 7.2%, Italy 4.8%, UK 4% (2006)

Economic aid - recipient:

$18.81 million (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$41.61 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.059 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA

Currency (code):

Seychelles rupee (SCR)

Currency code:

SCR

Exchange rates:

Seychelles rupees per US dollar - 6.5 (2007), 5.5 (2006), 5.5 (2005), 5.5 (2004), 5.4007 (2003)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications Seychelles

Telephones - main lines in use:

20,700 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

70,300 (2006)

Telephone system:

general assessment: effective system

domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 110 telephones per 100 persons; radiotelephone communications between islands in the archipelago

international: country code - 248; direct radiotelephone communications with adjacent island countries and African coastal countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 2 (2001)

Radios:

42,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (plus 9 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

11,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.sc

Internet hosts:

187 (2007)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

29,000 (2006)

Transportation Seychelles

Airports:

15 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 9

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 6

under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 6

914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 4 (2007)

Roadways:

total: 458 km

paved: 440 km

unpaved: 18 km (2003)

Merchant marine:

total: 6 ships (1000 GRT or over) 108,348 GRT/165,593 DWT

by type: cargo 1, carrier 1, chemical tanker 4

foreign-owned: 3 (Hong Kong 1, Nigeria 1, South Africa 1) (2007)

Ports and terminals:

Victoria

Military Seychelles

Military branches:

Seychelles Defense Force: Army, Coast Guard (includes Naval Wing, Air Wing), National Guard (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service (younger with parental consent); no conscription (2008)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 23,598

females age 16-49: 24,424 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 17,942

females age 16-49: 20,436 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2% (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues Seychelles

Disputes - international:

together with Mauritius, Seychelles claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory)

This page was last updated on 15 July, 2008

The World Factbook

Sierra Leone

Introduction Sierra Leone

Background:

Democracy is slowly being reestablished after the civil war from 1991 to 2002 that resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people (about one-third of the population). The military, which took over full responsibility for security following the departure of UN peacekeepers at the end of 2005, is increasingly developing as a guarantor of the country's stability. The armed forces remained on the sideline during the 2007 presidential election, but still look to the UN Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) - a civilian UN mission - to support efforts to consolidate peace. The new government's priorities include furthering development, creating jobs, and stamping out endemic corruption.

Geography Sierra Leone

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia

Geographic coordinates:

8 30 N, 11 30 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 71,740 sq km

land: 71,620 sq km

water: 120 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries:

total: 958 km

border countries: Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km

Coastline:

402 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)

Terrain:

coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m

Natural resources:

diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite

Land use:

arable land: 7.95%

permanent crops: 1.05%

other: 91% (2005)

Irrigated land:

300 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

160 cu km (1987)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic / industrial / agricultural):

total: 0.38 cu km/yr (5%/3%/92%)

per capita: 69 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms

Environment - current issues:

rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; civil war depleted natural resources; overfishing

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Geography - note:

rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 inches) a year, making it one of the wettest places along coastal, western Africa

People Sierra Leone

Population:

6,294,774 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 44.6% (male 1,377,981/female 1,429,993)

15-64 years: 52.2% (male 1,573,990/female 1,708,840)

65 years and over: 3.2% (male 94,359/female 109,611) (2008 est.)

Median age:

total: 17.5 years

male: 17.2 years

female: 17.8 years (2008 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.282% (2008 est.)

Birth rate:

45.08 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:

22.26 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate:

1 migrant(s)/1,000 population

note: refugees currently in surrounding countries are slowly returning (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 0.96 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female

total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 156.48 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 173.59 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 138.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 40.93 years

male: 38.64 years

female: 43.28 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.95 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

7% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

170,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

11,000 (2001 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever

water contact disease: schistosomiasis

aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Sierra Leonean(s)

adjective: Sierra Leonean

Ethnic groups:

20 African ethnic groups 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 30%), Creole (Krio) 10% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century), refugees from Liberia's recent civil war, small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians