Seychelles - wikipedia Seychelles For the ship, see HMS Seychelles ( K592 ). Coordinates : 4 ° 35 ′ S 55 ° 40 ′ E ﻿ / ﻿ 4.583 ° S 55.667 ° E ﻿ / - 4.583 ; 55.667 Republic of Seychelles République des Seychelles ( French ) Repiblik Sesel ( Seychelles Creole ) Flag Coat of arms Motto : `` Finis Coronat Opus '' ( Latin ) `` The End Crowns the Work '' Anthem : Koste Seselwa Join together all Seychellois Location of Seychelles ( dark blue ) -- in Africa ( light blue & dark grey ) -- in the African Union ( light blue ) Capital and largest city Victoria 4 ° 37 ′ S 55 ° 27 ′ E ﻿ / ﻿ 4.617 ° S 55.450 ° E ﻿ / - 4.617 ; 55.450 Official languages English French Seychellois Creole Ethnic groups ( 2000 ) 93.2 % Creoles 3.0 % British 1.8 % French 0.5 % Chinese 0.3 % Indian 1.2 % others Demonym Seychellois Seychelloise Seselwa ( Creole ) Government Unitary presidential republic President Danny Faure Vice President Vincent Mériton Legislature National Assembly Independence from the United Kingdom 29 June 1976 Area Total 459 km ( 177 sq mi ) ( 181st ) Water ( % ) negligible Population 2012 estimate 92,000 ( 195th ) Density 186.2 / km ( 482.3 / sq mi ) ( 60th ) GDP ( PPP ) 2017 estimate Total $2.761 billion Per capita $29,155 GDP ( nominal ) 2017 estimate Total $1.475 billion Per capita $15,577 Gini ( 2007 ) 65.8 very high HDI ( 2014 ) 0.772 high 64th Currency Seychellois rupee ( SCR ) Time zone SCT ( UTC + 4 ) Summer ( DST ) not observed ( UTC + 4 ) Drives on the left Calling code + 248 ISO 3166 code SC Internet TLD. sc Seychelles ( / seɪˈʃɛlz / ( listen ) say - SHELZ ; French : ( sɛʃɛl ) ), officially the Republic of Seychelles ( French : République des Seychelles ; Creole : Repiblik Sesel ), is an archipelago and country in the Indian Ocean. The 115 - island country, whose capital is Victoria, lies 1,500 kilometres ( 932 mi ) east of mainland East Africa. Other nearby island countries and territories include Comoros, Mayotte ( region of France ), Madagascar, Réunion ( region of France ) and Mauritius to the south. With a population of roughly 92,000, it has the smallest population of any sovereign African country ; however, it does have a larger population than the British overseas territory Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. Seychelles is a member of the African Union, the Southern African Development Community, the Commonwealth of Nations, and the United Nations. After proclamation of independence from the United Kingdom in 1976, Seychelles has developed from a largely agricultural society to a market - based diversified economy, with agriculture being supplanted by rapidly rising service and public sectors as well as tourism. Since 1976, nominal GDP output has increased nearly sevenfold and the purchasing power parity nearly sixteenfold. In recent years, the government has encouraged foreign investment in order to upgrade these sectors. Today, Seychelles boasts the highest nominal per capita GDP in Africa, excluding the French regions. It is one of only a handful of countries in Africa with a high Human Development Index. Despite the country 's newfound economic prosperity, poverty remains widespread due to a high level of income inequality, one of the highest in the world, and low wealth distribution. Contents 1 History 1.1 Independence ( 1976 ) 2 Politics 2.1 Political culture 2.2 Foreign relations 2.3 Administrative divisions 3 Geography 3.1 Climate 3.2 Wildlife 3.3 Environmental issues 4 Demographics 4.1 Languages 4.2 Religion 5 Economy 5.1 Tourism 5.2 Energy 6 Culture 6.1 Education 6.2 Cuisine 6.3 Music 6.4 Media and telecommunications 6.5 Sports 7 Security 7.1 Military 7.2 Incarceration 7.3 Modern piracy 8 See also 9 References 10 External links History Main article : History of Seychelles Victoria, Seychelles 1900s The Seychelles were uninhabited throughout most of recorded history. Some scholars assume that Austronesian seafarers and later Maldivian and Arab traders were the first to visit the uninhabited Seychelles. This assumption is based on the discovery of tombs, visible until 1910. The earliest recorded sighting by Europeans took place in 1502 by the Portuguese Admiral Vasco da Gama, who passed through the Amirantes and named them after himself ( islands of the Admiral ). The earliest recorded landing was in January 1609, by the crew of the `` Ascension '' under Captain Alexander Sharpeigh during the fourth voyage of the British East India Company. A transit point for trade between Africa and Asia, the islands were occasionally used by pirates until the French began to take control starting in 1756 when a Stone of Possession was laid on Mahé by Captain Nicholas Morphey. The islands were named after Jean Moreau de Séchelles, Louis XV 's Minister of Finance. The British controlled the islands between 1794 and 1810. Jean Baptiste Quéau de Quincy, French administrator of Seychelles during the years of war with the United Kingdom, declined to resist when armed enemy warships arrived. Instead, he successfully negotiated the status of capitulation to Britain which gave the settlers a privileged position of neutrality. Britain eventually assumed full control upon the surrender of Mauritius in 1810, formalised in 1814 at the Treaty of Paris. Seychelles became a crown colony separate from Mauritius in 1903. Elections were held in 1966 and 1970. Independence ( 1976 ) Independence was granted in 1976 as a republic within the Commonwealth. In the 1970s Seychelles was `` the place to be seen, a playground for film stars and the international jet set ''. In 1977, a coup d'état by France Albert René ousted the first president of the republic, James Mancham. René discouraged over-dependence on tourism and declared that he wanted `` to keep the Seychelles for the Seychellois ''. The 1979 constitution declared a socialist one - party state, which lasted until 1991. In the 1980s there were a series of coup attempts against President René, some of which were supported by South Africa. In 1981, Mike Hoare led a team of 43 South African mercenaries masquerading as holidaying rugby players in the 1981 Seychelles coup d'état attempt. There was a gun battle at the airport, and most of the mercenaries later escaped in a hijacked Air India plane. The leader of this hijacking was German mercenary D. Clodo, a former member of the Rhodesian SAS. Clodo later stood trial in South Africa ( where he was acquitted ) as well as in his home country Germany for air - piracy. In 1986, an attempted coup led by the Seychelles Minister of Defence, Ogilvy Berlouis, caused President René to request assistance from India. In Operation Flowers are Blooming, the Indian naval vessel INS Vindhyagiri arrived in Port Victoria to help avert the coup. The first draft of a new constitution failed to receive the requisite 60 % of voters in 1992, but an amended version was approved in 1993. In January 2013, Seychelles declared a state of emergency ; the tropical cyclone Felleng caused torrential rain, and flooding and landslides destroyed hundreds of houses. Politics Victoria, the capital of Seychelles Main article : Politics of Seychelles The Seychelles president, who is head of state and head of government, is elected by popular vote for a five - year term of office. The cabinet is presided over and appointed by the president, subject to the approval of a majority of the legislature. The unicameral Seychellois parliament, the National Assembly or Assemblée Nationale, consists of 34 members, 25 of whom are elected directly by popular vote, while the remaining nine seats are appointed proportionally according to the percentage of votes received by each party. All members serve five - year terms. The Supreme Court of Seychelles, created in 1903, is the highest trial court in Seychelles and the first court of appeal from all the lower courts and tribunals. The highest court of law in Seychelles is the Seychelles Court of Appeal, which is the court of final appeal in the country. Political culture Former President James Michel in his office in Victoria, 2009 Map of Seychelles Seychelles ' previous president France Albert René came to power after his supporters overthrew the first president James Mancham on 5 June 1977 in a coup d'état and installed him as president. René was at that time the prime minister. René ruled as a strongman under a socialist one - party system until in 1993, when he was forced to introduce a multi-party system. He stepped down in 2004 in favour of his vice-president, James Michel, who was re-elected in 2006 and again in 2011. On 28 September 2016, the Office of the President announced that Michel would step down effective 16 October, and that Vice President Danny Faure would complete the rest of Michel 's term. The primary political parties are the ruling socialist People 's Party ( PP ), known until 2009 as the Seychelles People 's Progressive Front ( SPPF ), and the socially liberal Seychelles National Party ( SNP ). Foreign relations Further information : Foreign relations of Seychelles Seychelles is a member of the African Union, the francophone Indian Ocean Commission ( IOC ), La Francophonie, the Southern African Development Community ( SADC ) and the Commonwealth. Administrative divisions Main article : Districts of Seychelles Seychelles is divided into twenty - six administrative regions comprising all of the inner islands. Eight of the districts make up the capital of Seychelles and are referred to as Greater Victoria. Another 14 districts are considered the rural part of the main island of Mahé with two districts on Praslin and one on La Digue which also includes respective satellite islands. The rest of the Outer Islands ( Îles Eloignées ) are the last district, recently created by the tourism ministry. Greater Victoria Bel Air La Rivière Anglaise ( English River ) Les Mamelles Mont Buxton Mont Fleuri Plaisance Roche Caiman Saint Louis Rural Mahé Anse aux Pins Anse Boileau Anse Etoile Au Cap Anse Royale Baie Lazare Beau Vallon Bel Ombre Cascade Glacis Grand'Anse Mahé Pointe La Rue Port Glaud Takamaka Praslin Baie Sainte Anne ( Anse Volbert ) Grand'Anse Praslin ( Grande Anse ) La Digue and remaining Inner Islands La Digue ( Anse Réunion ) Geography Main article : Geography of Seychelles This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( February 2017 ) View of the second largest island of the Seychelles, Praslin An island nation, Seychelles is located in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar and about 1,600 km ( 994 mi ) east of Kenya. The archipelago consists of 115 islands. The majority of the islands are uninhabited, with many dedicated as nature reserves. A group of 42 islands, referred to as the inland islands, has a total area of 244 km, comprising 54 % of the total land area of the Seychelles and 98 % of the entire population. The islands are divided into groups as follows. There are 45 granite - based islands known as the Granitic Seychelles. These are in descending order of size : Mahé, Praslin, Silhouette Island, La Digue, Curieuse, Félicité, Frégate, Ste - Anne, North, Cerf, Marianne, Grand Sœur, Thérèse, Aride, Conception, Petite Sœur, Cousin, Cousine, Long, Récif, Round ( Praslin ), Anonyme, Mamelles, Moyenne, Eden, Île Soleil, Romainville, Île aux Vaches Marines, L'Islette, Beacon ( Île Sèche ), Cachée, Cocos, Round ( Mahé ), L'Ilot Frégate, Booby, Chauve - Souris ( Mahé ), Chauve - Souris ( Praslin ), Île La Fouche, Hodoul, L'Ilot, Rat, Souris, St. Pierre ( Praslin ), Zavé, Harrison Rocks ( Grand Rocher ). Beach of Anse Source d'Argent on the island of La Digue There are two coral sand cays north of the granitics : Denis and Bird. There are two coral islands south of the Granitics : Coëtivy and Platte. Beach of Anse Lazio on the island of Praslin There are 29 coral islands in the Amirantes group, west of the granitics : Desroches, Poivre Atoll ( comprising three islands -- Poivre, Florentin and South Island ), Alphonse, D'Arros, St. Joseph Atoll ( comprising 14 islands -- St. Joseph Île aux Fouquets, Resource, Petit Carcassaye, Grand Carcassaye, Benjamin, Bancs Ferrari, Chiens, Pélicans, Vars, Île Paul, Banc de Sable, Banc aux Cocos and Île aux Poules ), Marie Louise, Desnœufs, African Banks ( comprising two islands -- African Banks and South Island ), Rémire, St. François, Boudeuse, Étoile, Bijoutier. Aldabra atoll There are 13 coral islands in the Farquhar Group, south - southwest of the Amirantes : Farquhar Atoll ( comprising 10 islands -- Bancs de Sable, Déposés, Île aux Goëlettes, Lapins, Île du Milieu, North Manaha, South Manaha, Middle Manaha, North Island and South Island ), Providence Atoll ( comprising two islands -- Providence and Bancs Providence ) and St Pierre. Mahé Island There are 67 raised coral islands in the Aldabra Group, west of the Farquhar Group : Aldabra Atoll ( comprising 46 islands -- Grande Terre, Picard, Polymnie, Malabar, Île Michel, Île Esprit, Île aux Moustiques, Ilot Parc, Ilot Émile, Ilot Yangue, Ilot Magnan, Île Lanier, Champignon des Os, Euphrate, Grand Mentor, Grand Ilot, Gros Ilot Gionnet, Gros Ilot Sésame, Héron Rock, Hide Island, Île aux Aigrettes, Île aux Cèdres, Îles Chalands, Île Fangame, Île Héron, Île Michel, Île Squacco, Île Sylvestre, Île Verte, Ilot Déder, Ilot du Sud, Ilot du Milieu, Ilot du Nord, Ilot Dubois, Ilot Macoa, Ilot Marquoix, Ilots Niçois, Ilot Salade, Middle Row Island, Noddy Rock, North Row Island, Petit Mentor, Petit Mentor Endans, Petits Ilots, Pink Rock and Table Ronde ), Assumption Island, Astove and Cosmoledo Atoll ( comprising 19 islands -- Menai, Île du Nord ( West North ), Île Nord - Est ( East North ), Île du Trou, Goélettes, Grand Polyte, Petit Polyte, Grand Île ( Wizard ), Pagode, Île du Sud - Ouest ( South ), Île aux Moustiques, Île Baleine, Île aux Chauve - Souris, Île aux Macaques, Île aux Rats, Île du Nord - Ouest, Île Observation, Île Sud - Est and Ilot la Croix ). Climate The climate is equable although quite humid, as the islands are small, classified by Köppen - Geiger system as tropical rain forest ( Af ). The temperature varies little throughout the year. Temperatures on Mahé vary from 24 to 30 ° C ( 75 to 86 ° F ), and rainfall ranges from 2,900 mm ( 114 in ) annually at Victoria to 3,600 mm ( 142 in ) on the mountain slopes. Precipitation is somewhat less on the other islands. During the coolest months, July and August, the average low is about 24 ° C ( 75 ° F ). The southeast trade winds blow regularly from May to November, and this is the most pleasant time of the year. The hot months are from December to April, with higher humidity ( 80 % ). March and April are the hottest months, but the temperature seldom exceeds 31 ° C ( 88 ° F ). Most of the islands lie outside the cyclone belt, so high winds are rare. Climate data for Victoria ( Seychelles International Airport ) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Average high ° C ( ° F ) 29.8 ( 85.6 ) 30.4 ( 86.7 ) 31.0 ( 87.8 ) 31.4 ( 88.5 ) 30.5 ( 86.9 ) 29.1 ( 84.4 ) 28.3 ( 82.9 ) 28.4 ( 83.1 ) 29.1 ( 84.4 ) 29.6 ( 85.3 ) 30.1 ( 86.2 ) 30.0 ( 86 ) 29.8 ( 85.6 ) Daily mean ° C ( ° F ) 26.8 ( 80.2 ) 27.3 ( 81.1 ) 27.8 ( 82 ) 28.0 ( 82.4 ) 27.7 ( 81.9 ) 26.6 ( 79.9 ) 25.8 ( 78.4 ) 25.9 ( 78.6 ) 26.4 ( 79.5 ) 26.7 ( 80.1 ) 26.8 ( 80.2 ) 26.7 ( 80.1 ) 26.9 ( 80.4 ) Average low ° C ( ° F ) 24.1 ( 75.4 ) 24.6 ( 76.3 ) 24.8 ( 76.6 ) 25.0 ( 77 ) 25.4 ( 77.7 ) 24.6 ( 76.3 ) 23.9 ( 75 ) 23.9 ( 75 ) 24.2 ( 75.6 ) 24.3 ( 75.7 ) 24.0 ( 75.2 ) 23.9 ( 75 ) 24.4 ( 75.9 ) Average precipitation mm ( inches ) 379 ( 14.92 ) 262 ( 10.31 ) 167 ( 6.57 ) 177 ( 6.97 ) 124 ( 4.88 ) 63 ( 2.48 ) 80 ( 3.15 ) 97 ( 3.82 ) 121 ( 4.76 ) 206 ( 8.11 ) 215 ( 8.46 ) 281 ( 11.06 ) 2,172 ( 85.49 ) Average precipitation days ( ≥ 1.0 mm ) 17 11 11 14 11 10 10 10 11 12 14 18 149 Average relative humidity ( % ) 82 80 79 80 79 79 80 79 78 79 80 82 79.8 Mean monthly sunshine hours 153.3 175.5 210.5 227.8 252.8 232.0 230.5 230.7 227.7 220.7 195.7 170.5 2,527.7 Source # 1 : World Meteorological Organization Source # 2 : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Wildlife Main article : Flora and fauna of Seychelles Seychelles Paradise - flycatcher An Aldabra giant tortoise Environmental legislation is very strict, and every tourism project must undergo an environmental review and a lengthy process of consultations with the public and conservationists. Seychelles is a world leader in sustainable tourism. The end result of this sustainable development is an intact and stable natural environment, which attracts financially strong visitors ( 150,000 in 2007 ) rather than short - term mass tourism. Since 1993 a law guarantees the citizens the right to a clean environment and at the same time obliges them to protect this environment. The country holds a record for the highest percentage of land under natural conservation -- nearly 50 % of the total land area. Nerita plicata on Mahe island Bird flocks Bird Island Seychelles Like many fragile island ecosystems, Seychelles saw the loss of biodiversity when humans first settled in the area, including the disappearance of most of the giant tortoises from the granitic islands, the felling of coastal and mid-level forests, and the extinction of species such as the chestnut flanked white eye, the Seychelles parakeet, and the saltwater crocodile. However, extinctions were far fewer than on islands such as Mauritius or Hawaii, partly due to a shorter period of human occupation ( since 1770 ). Seychelles today is known for success stories in protecting its flora and fauna. The rare Seychelles black parrot, the national bird of the country, is now protected. The granitic islands of Seychelles are home to about 75 endemic plant species, with a further 25 or so species in the Aldabra group. Particularly well - known is the coco de mer, a species of palm that grows only on the islands of Praslin and neighbouring Curieuse. Sometimes nicknamed the `` love nut '' because the shape of its `` double '' coconut resembles buttocks, the coco - de-mer produces the world 's heaviest seed. The jellyfish tree is to be found in only a few locations on Mahe. This strange and ancient plant in a genus of its own ( Medusagyne ) seems to reproduce only in cultivation and not in the wild. Other unique plant species include Wright 's gardenia ( Rothmannia annae ) found only on Aride Island Special Reserve. The freshwater crab genus Seychellum is endemic to the granitic Seychelles, and a further 26 species of crabs and five species of hermit crabs live on the islands. The Aldabra giant tortoise now populates many of the islands of Seychelles ; the Aldabra population is the largest remaining. These unique reptiles can be found even in captive herds. The granitic islands of Seychelles may support distinct species of Seychelles giant tortoises ; the status of the different populations is currently unclear. There are several unique species of orchid on the islands. Seychelles hosts some of the largest seabird colonies in the world, notably on the outer islands of Aldabra and Cosmoledo. In granitic Seychelles the largest colonies are on Aride Island including the world 's largest numbers of two species. Sooty terns also breed on the islands. Other birds include Cattle egrets ( Bubulcus ibis ) and Fairy terns ( Gygis alba ). The marine life around the islands, especially the more remote coral islands, can be spectacular. More than 1,000 species of fish have been recorded. Environmental issues Since the use of spearguns and dynamite for fishing was banned through efforts of local conservationists in the 1960s, the wildlife is unafraid of snorkelers and divers. Coral bleaching in 1998 has damaged most reefs, but some reefs show healthy recovery ( e.g., Silhouette Island ). Despite huge disparities across nations, Seychelles claims to have achieved nearly all of its Millennium Development Goals. 17 MDGS and 169 targets have been achieved. Environmental protection is becoming a cultural value. Their government 's Seychelles Climate Guide describes the nation 's climate as rainy, with a dry season with an ocean economy in the ocean regions. The Southeast Trades is on the decline but still fairly strong. Reportedly, weather patterns there are becoming less predictable. Demographics Main article : Demographics of Seychelles See also : Indo - Seychellois, Sino - Seychellois, Seychellois Creole People, Seychellois Creole, and Franco - Seychellois Victoria, Seychelles Demographics of Seychelles, Data of FAO, year 2005 ; Number of inhabitants in thousands. When the British gained control of the islands during the Napoleonic Wars, they allowed the French upper class to retain their land. Both the French and British settlers used enslaved Africans, and although the British prohibited slavery in 1835, African workers continued to come. Thus the Gran blan ( `` big whites '' ) of French origin dominated economic and political life. The British administration employed Indians on indentured servitude to the same degree as in Mauritius resulting in a small Indian population. The Indians, like a similar minority of Chinese, were confined to a merchant class. Through harmonious socioeconomic policies and developments over the years, today Seychelles is described as a fusion of peoples and cultures. Numerous Seychellois are considered multiracial : blending from African, Asian and European descent to create a modern creole culture. Evidence of this harmonious blend is also revealed in Seychellois food, incorporating various aspects of French, Chinese, Indian and African cuisine. St Francis Church, Mahé As the islands of the Seychelles had no indigenous population, the current Seychellois are composed of people who have immigrated. The largest ethnic groups were those of African, French, Indian and Chinese descent. The median age of the Seychellois was 32 years. Languages French and English are official languages along with Seychellois Creole, which is primarily based upon French, yet nowadays is often laced with English words and phrases. Including second - language speakers, Seychellois is the most - spoken official language in the Seychelles, followed by French, and lastly English. 87 % of the population speaks Seychellois, 51 % speaks French, and 38 % speaks English. Religion See also : Religion in Seychelles According to the 2010 census, most Seychellois are Christians : 76.2 % were Roman Catholic, pastorally served by the exempt Diocese of Port Victoria or Seychelles ( immediately dependent on the Holy See ) ; 10.6 % were Protestant, ( Anglican 6.1 %, Pentecostal Assembly 1.5 %, Seventh - Day Adventist 1.2 %, other Protestant 1.6 % ). Hinduism is practiced by 2.4 %, and Islam by 1.6 %. Other non-Christian faiths accounted for 1.1 % of the population while a further 5.9 % were non-religious or did not specify a religion. Economy Main article : Economy of Seychelles The sailfish at Mahé Beach Colourful skirts at Seychelles Market During the plantation era, cinnamon, vanilla and copra were the chief exports. In 1965, during a three - month visit to the islands, futurist Donald Prell prepared for the then - crown colony Governor General an economic report containing a scenario for the future of the economy. Quoting from his report, in the 1960s, about 33 % of the working population worked at plantations, and 20 % worked in the public or government sector. The Indian Ocean Tracking Station on Mahé was closed in August 1996 after the Seychelles government attempted to raise the rent to more than $10,000,000 per year. Since independence in 1976, per capita output 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 labour force, compared to agriculture which today employs about 3 % of the labour force. Despite the growth of tourism, farming and fishing continue to employ some people, as do industries that process coconuts and vanilla. As of 2013, the main export products are processed fish ( 60 % ) and non-fillet frozen fish ( 22 % ). The prime agricultural products currently produced in Seychelles include sweet potatoes, vanilla, coconuts and cinnamon. These products provide much of the economic support of the locals. Frozen and canned fish, copra, cinnamon and vanilla are the main export commodities. Since the worldwide economic crises of 2008, the Seychelles government has prioritised a curbing of the budget deficit, including the containment of social welfare costs and further privatisation of public enterprises. The government has a pervasive presence in economic activity, with public enterprises active in petroleum product distribution, banking, imports of basic products, telecommunications and a wide range of other businesses. According to the 2013 Index of Economic Freedom, which measures the degree of limited government, market openness, regulatory efficiency, rule of law, and other factors, economic freedom has been increasing each year since 2010. The national currency of Seychelles is the Seychellois rupee. Initially tied to a basket of international currencies, it was depegged and allowed to be devalued and float freely in 2008 on the presumed hopes of attracting further foreign investment in the Seychelles economy. Tourism Further information : Tourism in Seychelles Aircraft at Seychelles International Airport Beach resort at Seychelles In 1971, with the opening of Seychelles International Airport, tourism became a significant industry, essentially dividing the economy into plantations and tourism. The tourism sector paid better, and the plantation economy could only expand so far. The plantation sector of the economy declined in prominence, and tourism became the primary industry of Seychelles. In recent years the government has encouraged foreign investment to upgrade hotels and other services. These incentives have given rise to an enormous amount of investment in real estate projects and new resort properties, such as project TIME, distributed by the World Bank, along with its predecessor project MAGIC. Despite its growth, the vulnerability of the tourist sector was illustrated by the sharp drop in 1991 -- 1992 due largely to the Gulf War. Since then the government has moved to reduce the dependence on tourism by promoting the development of farming, fishing, small - scale manufacturing and most recently the offshore financial sector, through the establishment of the Financial Services Authority and the enactment of several pieces of legislation ( such as the International Corporate Service Providers Act, the International Business Companies Act, the Securities Act, the Mutual Funds and Hedge Fund Act, amongst others ). During March 2015, Seychelles allocated Assumption island to be developed by India. Energy Although multinational oil companies have explored the waters around the islands, no oil or gas has been found. In 2005, a deal was signed with US firm Petroquest, giving it exploration rights to about 30,000 km around Constant, Topaz, Farquhar and Coëtivy islands until 2014. Seychelles imports oil from the Persian Gulf in the form of refined petroleum derivatives at the rate of about 5,700 barrels per day ( 910 m / d ). In recent years oil has been imported from Kuwait and also from Bahrain. Seychelles imports three times more oil than is needed for internal uses because it re-exports the surplus oil in the form of bunker for ships and aircraft calling at Mahé. There are no refining capacities on the islands. Oil and gas imports, distribution and re-export are the responsibility of Seychelles Petroleum ( Sepec ), while oil exploration is the responsibility of the Seychelles National Oil Company ( SNOC ). Culture See also : Women in Seychelles The district clock tower in the centre of the capital Victoria Seychellois society is essentially matriarchal. Mothers tend to be dominant in the household, controlling most expenditures and looking after the interests of the children. Unwed mothers are the societal norm, and the law requires fathers to support their children. Men are important for their earning ability, but their domestic role is relatively peripheral. Education Main article : Education in Seychelles Until the mid-19th century, little formal education was available in Seychelles. The Catholic and Anglican churches opened mission schools in 1851. The Catholic mission later operated boys ' and girls ' secondary schools with religious Brothers and nuns from abroad even after the government became responsible for them in 1944. A teacher training college opened in 1959, when the supply of locally trained teachers began to grow, and in short time many new schools were established. Since 1981 a system of free education has been in effect requiring attendance by all children in grades one to nine, beginning at age five. Ninety percent of all children attend nursery school at age four. The literacy rate for school - age children rose to more than 90 % by the late 1980s. Many older Seychellois had not been taught to read or write in their childhood ; adult education classes helped raise adult literacy from 60 % to a claimed 100 % in 2014. There are a total of 68 schools in Seychelles. The public school system consists of 23 crèches, 25 primary schools and 13 secondary schools. They are located on Mahé, Praslin, La Digue and Silhouette. Additionally, there are three private schools : École Française, International School and the Independent School. All the private schools are on Mahé, and the International School has a branch on Praslin. There are seven post-secondary ( non-tertiary ) schools : the Seychelles Polytechnic, School of Advanced Level Studies, Seychelles Tourism Academy, University of Seychelles Education, Seychelles Institute of Technology, Maritime Training Center, Seychelles Agricultural and Horticultural Training Center and the National Institute for Health and Social Studies. The administration launched plans to open a university in an attempt to slow down the brain drain that has occurred. University of Seychelles, initiated in conjunction with the University of London, opened on 17 September 2009 in three locations and offers qualifications from the University of London. Cuisine Further information : Cuisine of Seychelles Cutting open young coconuts for drinking, Seychelles Staple foods include fish, seafood and shellfish dishes, often accompanied with rice. Fish dishes are cooked in several ways, such as steamed, grilled, wrapped in banana leaves, baked, salted and smoked. Curry dishes with rice are also a significant aspect of the country 's cuisine. Additional food staples include coconut, breadfruit, mangoes and kordonnyen fish. Dishes are often garnished with fresh flowers. Chicken dishes, such as chicken curry and coconut milk. Coconut curry Dhal ( lentils ) Fish curry Saffron rice Fresh tropical fruits Ladob is eaten either as a savoury dish or as a dessert. The dessert version usually consists of ripe plantain and sweet potatoes ( but may also include cassava, breadfruit or even corossol ) boiled with coconut milk, sugar, nutmeg and vanilla in the form of a pod until the fruit is soft and the sauce is creamy. The savoury dish usually includes salted fish, cooked in a similar fashion to the dessert version, with plantain, cassava and breadfruit, but with salt used in place of sugar ( and omitting vanilla ). Shark chutney typically consists of boiled skinned shark, finely mashed, and cooked with squeezed bilimbi juice and lime. It is mixed with onion and spices, and the onion is fried and it is cooked in oil. Vegetables Music Further information : Music of Seychelles The music of Seychelles is diverse, a reflection of the fusion of cultures through its history. The folk music of the islands incorporates multiple influences in a syncretic fashion, including African rhythms, aesthetic and instrumentation -- such as the zez and the bom ( known in Brazil as berimbau ), European contredanse, polka and mazurka, French folk and pop, sega from Mauritius and Réunion, taarab, soukous and other pan-African genres, and Polynesian, Indian and Arcadian music. A form of percussion music called contombley is popular, as is Moutya, a fusion of native folk rhythms with Kenyan benga. Kontredans ( based on European contredanse ) is popular, especially in District and School competitions during the annual Festival Kreol ( International Creole Festival ). Moutya playing and dancing can often be seen at beach bazaars. Their main languages are Seychellois Creole of the French language, French and English. Media and telecommunications Main article : Media and telecommunications in Seychelles The main daily newspaper is the Seychelles Nation, dedicated to local government views and current affairs and topics. Other political parties operate other papers such as Regar. Foreign newspapers and magazines are readily available in most bookshops and newsagents. The papers are mostly written in Seychellois Creole, French and English. The main television and radio network is operated by the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation which offers locally produced news and discussion programmes in the Seychellois Creole language. Broadcasts run between 3pm and 11 : 30pm on weekdays and longer hours during the weekends. There are also imported English and French language television programmes imported on Seychellois terrestrial television and international satellite television has grown rapidly in recent years. Sports The most popular sport in Seychelles is basketball, which has particularly developed in this decade. The country 's national team qualified for the 2015 African Games, its greatest accomplishment to date. There, the team competed against some of the continent 's largest countries such as Egypt. Security Military Further information : Military of Seychelles INS Teg approaching Port Victoria, Seychelles The Military of Seychelles is the Seychelles People 's Defence Force which consists of a number of distinct branches : including an Infantry Unit, Coast Guard, Air Force and a Presidential Protection Unit. India has and continues to play a key role developing the military of Seychelles. After handing over 2 SDB Mk5 patrol vessels namely INS Tarasa and INS Tarmugli to Seychelles Coast Guard, built by GRSE which were subsequently renamed SCG Constant and SCG Topaz, India also gifted a Dornier Maritime Patrol aircraft built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. India also signed a pact to develop Assumption Island, one of the 115 islands that make up the country. Spread over 11 km ( 4 sq mi ), it is strategically located in the Indian Ocean, north of Madagascar. The island is being leased for the development of infrastructure, a euphemism for developing strategic assets by India. Incarceration In 2014, Seychelles had the highest incarceration rate in the world of 799 prisoners per 100,000 population, exceeding the United States rate by 15 %. However, the country 's actual population is less than 100,000 ; as of September 2014, Seychelles had 735 actual prisoners, 6 % of whom were female, incarcerated in three prisons. Further information : List of countries by incarceration rate Modern piracy Seychelles is a key participant in the fight against Indian Ocean piracy mainly by Somalis. Former president James Michel said that piracy costs between $7 -- 12 million a year to the international community : `` The pirates cost 4 % of the Seychelles GDP, including direct and indirect costs for the loss of boats, fishing, and tourism, and the indirect investment for the maritime security, '' factors affecting local fishing -- one of the country 's main national resources -- which had a 46 % loss in 2008 -- 9. International contributions of patrol boats, planes or drones have been provided to help Seychelles combat sea piracy. See also Book : Seychelles Outline of Seychelles List of colonial governors of Seychelles References ^ Jump up to : `` Seychelles ''. International Monetary Fund. Jump up ^ `` GINI index ''. World Bank. Retrieved 26 July 2013. Jump up ^ `` 2015 Human Development Report '' ( PDF ). United Nations Development Programme. 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2015. Jump up ^ Anouk Zijlma ( 9 July 2011 ). `` Facts about Africa ''. Goafrica.about.com. Retrieved 23 March 2012. Jump up ^ `` Seychelles - Income Inequality - GINI index ''. Knoema, World Data Atlas. 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2017. Jump up ^ Lionnet, Guy ( 1972 ). The Seychelles. David and Charles. p. 55 -- 56. ISBN 0811715140. Jump up ^ `` Our History ''. National Assembly of Seychelles. Retrieved 12 May 2012. Jump up ^ `` History of Seychelles ''. seychelles.com. 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2010. ^ Jump up to : Joanna Symons ( 21 March 2005 ). `` Seychelles : Life 's a breeze near the equator ''. Telegraph.co.uk. Jump up ^ `` africanhistory.about.com ''. africanhistory.about.com. Retrieved 23 March 2012. Jump up ^ Hoare, Mike The Seychelles Affair ( Transworld, London, 1986 ; ISBN 0 - 593 - 01122 - 8 ) Jump up ^ Bartus László : Maffiaregény ISBN 9634405967, Budapest 2001 Jump up ^ David Brewster and Ranjit Rai. `` Flowers Are Blooming : the story of the India Navy 's secret operation in the Seychelles. Retrieved 10 August 2014 ''. Jump up ^ `` International Chapter activated for flooding in the Republic of Seychelles ''. United Nation. Retrieved 1 February 2013. Jump up ^ `` State of Emergency declared in the Seychelles ''. Aljazeera. Retrieved 1 February 2013. Jump up ^ `` Tge Judiciary ''. Bar Association of Seychelles. Retrieved 18 February 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` Results reflect popular will, observers say ''. Seychelles Nation. Retrieved 30 May 2011. ^ Jump up to : `` Seychelles re-elects President Michel ''. Reuters. 21 May 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2011. ^ Jump up to : `` Vote buying claims mar Seychelles election ''. Agence France - Presse. 19 May 2011. Archived from the original on 25 May 2012. Jump up ^ George Thande ( 28 September 2016 ). `` Seychelles vice president to complete term of resigning president ''. Reuters. Retrieved 28 September 2016. Jump up ^ `` Seychellen4you -- Seychelles Info ''. www.seychelles4u.com ( in German ). Retrieved 2017 - 03 - 21. Jump up ^ U.S. Department of State. `` Background Note : Seychelles ''. Retrieved 25 May 2010. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. ^ Jump up to : `` Climate ''. STGT.com. Retrieved 23 March 2012. Jump up ^ `` World Weather Information Service -- Victoria ''. World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved 16 November 2012. Jump up ^ `` SEYCHELLES INTL AP Climate Normals 1971 -- 1990 ''. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 16 November 2012. Jump up ^ Janet Haig ( 1984 ). `` Land and freshwater crabs of the Seychelles and neighbouring islands ''. In David Ross Stoddart. Biogeography and Ecology of the Seychelles Islands. Springer. p. 123. ISBN 978 - 90 - 6193 - 107 - 2. Jump up ^ Attenborough, D. 1998. The Life of Birds. p. 220 - 221. BBC. ISBN 0563 - 38792 - 0 Jump up ^ Seychelles Climate Guide, 2015. Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change. meteo.gov.sc Jump up ^ Seychelles weather and climate, see ' Blue Economy '. Expertafrica.com. Retrieved on 8 December 2016. Jump up ^ `` Culture of Seychelles ''. Everyculture.com. Retrieved 23 March 2012. ^ Jump up to : `` Seychelles ''. CIA -- The World Factbook. ^ Jump up to : Lewis, M. Paul, Gary F. Simons, and Charles D. Fennig ( eds. ) ( 2016 ). `` Seychelles languages ''. Ethnologue : Languages of the World, Dallas, Texas ; 19th edition. Retrieved 2 November 2016. CS1 maint : Multiple names : authors list ( link ) CS1 maint : Extra text : authors list ( link ) Jump up ^ D.B. Prell ( 1965 ). Economic Study of the Seychelles Islands. D.B. Prell. Jump up ^ `` Economic. Study. Seychelles. 1965. D.B. Prell ''. Internet Archive. Jump up ^ OEC -- Products exported by the Seychelles ( 2013 ). Atlas.media.mit.edu. Retrieved on 8 December 2016. Jump up ^ `` 2013 Index of Economic Freedom ''. The Heritage Foundation. Retrieved 23 August 2013. Jump up ^ `` Seychelles economy -- Seychelles Travel Guide ''. Seychellestour.com. Retrieved 23 March 2012. Jump up ^ India to develop two islands in Indian Ocean -- Times of India. Timesofindia.indiatimes.com ( 11 March 2015 ). Retrieved on 2016 - 12 - 08. ^ Jump up to : Tartter, Jean R. `` Status of Women ''. Indian Ocean country studies : Seychelles ( Helen Chapin Metz, editor ). Library of Congress Federal Research Division ( August 1994 ). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. ^ Jump up to : Country Reports on Human Rights Practices : Seychelles ( 2007 ) Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor ( 11 March 2008 ). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. ^ Jump up to : Lonely Planet Mauritius, Reunion & Seychelles. Lonely Planet. 2010. pp. 273 -- 274. ISBN 978 - 1 - 74179 - 167 - 9. ^ Jump up to : Dyfed Lloyd Evans. The Recipes of Africa. Dyfed Lloyd Evans. pp. 235 -- 236. Jump up ^ Practice Tests for IGCSE English as a Second Language Reading and Writing. Cambridge University Press. 2010 - 02 - 04. p. 50. ISBN 978 - 0 - 521 - 14059 - 1. ^ Jump up to : Paul Tingay ( 2006 ). Seychelles. New Holland Publishers. pp. 33 -- 34. ISBN 978 - 1 - 84537 - 439 - 6. ^ Jump up to : Lloyd E. Hudman ; Richard H. Jackson ( 2003 ). Geography of Travel and Tourism. Cengage Learning. p. 384. ISBN 0 - 7668 - 3256 - 2. ^ Jump up to : Sarah Carpin ( 1998 ) Seychelles, Odyssey Guides, The Guidebook Company Limited. p. 77 Jump up ^ Seychelles Basketball Federation eager to grow sport 's popularity, Fiba.com, 12 May 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2016. Jump up ^ `` India gifts second fast attack craft INS Tarasa to the Seychelles Coast Guard ''. Times of India. 8 November 2014 Jump up ^ Shubhajit Roy ( 12 March 2015 ) `` India to develop strategic assets in 2 Mauritius, Seychelles islands ''. The Indian Express. Jump up ^ `` Highest to Lowest -- Prison Population Rates Across the World ''. World Prison Brief. 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2016. Jump up ^ `` Data for prison population in Seychelles ''. World Prison Brief. 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2016. ^ Jump up to : Colonnello, Paolo ( 6 March 2012 ). `` A Pirate 's Prison Tucked Inside Seychelles Paradise ''. Worldcrunch. Retrieved 22 October 2016. External links Commonwealth realms portal Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Seychelles. Find more aboutSeychellesat Wikipedia 's sister projects Definitions from Wiktionary Media from Commons News from Wikinews Quotations from Wikiquote Texts from Wikisource Textbooks from Wikibooks Travel guide from Wikivoyage Learning resources from Wikiversity Government SeyGov, main government portal State House, Office of the President of the Republic of Seychelles Central Bank of Seychelles, on - shore banking and insurance regulator Seychelles Investment Bureau, government agency promoting investment in Seychelles National Bureau of Statistics, government agency responsible for collecting, compiling, analysing and publishing statistical information Religion GigaCatholic General `` Seychelles ''. The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Seychelles from UCB Libraries GovPubs Seychelles at DMOZ Seychelles from BBC News Wikimedia Atlas of Seychelles Island Conservation Society, a non-profit nature conservation and educational non-governmental organisation Nature Seychelles, a scientific / environmental non-governmental nature protection association The Seychelles Nation, the largest circulation local daily newspaper Seychelles Bird Records Committee Seychelles.travel, Government tourism portal Air Seychelles, Seychelles national airline ADST interview with U.S. Ambassador to Seychelles David Fischer Private website with tips and images Seychelles articles History History of Seychelles Geography Capital Cities Districts Rivers Wildlife Politics Elections Foreign relations Governors LGBT history Military National Assembly Political parties President Vice-President Prime Minister Supreme Court Economy Agriculture Central Bank Rupee ( currency ) Telecommunications Tourism Transport airports Society Culture Demographics Education Flag Languages People Music Religion Sport football rugby union Women Outline Index Book Category Portal Geography Countries and territories of Africa Sovereign states entirely in Africa Algeria Angola Benin Botswana Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Comoros Democratic Republic of the Congo Republic of the Congo Djibouti Egypt Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Ethiopia Gabon The Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea - Bissau Ivory Coast ( Côte d'Ivoire ) Kenya Lesotho Liberia Libya Madagascar Malawi Mali Mauritania Mauritius Morocco Mozambique Namibia Niger Nigeria Rwanda São Tomé and Príncipe Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Somalia South Africa South Sudan Sudan Swaziland Tanzania Togo Tunisia Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe partly in Africa France Mayotte Réunion Italy Pantelleria Pelagie Islands Portugal Madeira Spain Canary Islands Ceuta Melilla Plazas de soberanía Yemen Socotra Territories and dependencies Îles Éparses France Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha UK Southern Provinces ( Western Sahara ) States with limited recognition Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Somaliland Unclear sovereignty. 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Member States Countries and regions in the Somali Plate Countries Somalia Madagascar Seychelles Comoros Uganda Kenya Tanzania Swaziland Mozambique Regions Somaliland Réunion Mayotte Mauritius KwaZulu - Natal Khatumo Somali Region VIAF : 141529571 ISNI : 0000 0004 0459 108X GND : 4054694 - 9 SUDOC : 028127587 BNF : cb12002381k ( data ) NDL : 00576370 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Seychelles&oldid=799664469 '' Categories : Seychelles Mascarene Islands Countries of the Indian Ocean East African countries Commonwealth republics English - speaking countries and territories French - speaking countries and territories Former colonies in Africa Former French colonies French colonisation in Africa Member states of the African Union Member states of the Commonwealth of Nations Member states of the United Nations Small Island Developing States States and territories established in 1976 1976 establishments in Africa Countries in Africa Hidden categories : CS1 German - 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Question: where is seychelles located on the world map
Answer: in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar and about 1,600 km (994 mi) east of Kenya