| variable | 1980-1989 | 1990-1999 | 2000-2007 | 2008-2009 | 2010-2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| real gdp growth | 3.68 | 4.63 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 4.72 | 5.2 | 3.4 | 5.1 | 1.5 | 4.0 |
| CPI % | 3.04 | 2.14 | 6.8 | 14.7 | 2.8 | -1.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 2.6 | 1.7 |
| Unemployment rate | - | 5.42 | 3.11 | 4.85 | 3.15 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.5 |
| Debt/GDP % | 80.4 | 129.68 | 168.9 | 94.15 | 67.52 | 55.1 | 56.1 | 51.5 | 55.0 | 54.0 |
| Current account balance/GDP % | -12.87 | -6.05 | -13.62 | -16.95 | -11.03 | -6.4 | -7.9 | -6.5 | -7.8 | -5.6 |
Data derived from World Economic Outlook Database. To see main macroeconomic indicator in graphs click here
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.
Area: 455 sq km km2
Climate: tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May)
Natural resources: fish, coconuts (copra), cinnamon trees
Groups: predominantly Creole (mainly of East African and Malagasy heritage); also French, Indian, Chinese, and Arab populations
Languages:
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.)
Capital: Victoria
Government type: presidential republic
Chief of state: President Patrick HERMINIE (since 26 October 2025)
Head of government: President Patrick HERMINIE (since 26 October 2025)
Description: National Assembly - unicameral
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
fishing, tourism, beverages
GDP by sector: Agriculture: 2.5% (2024 est.), Industry: 12.3% (2024 est.), Services: 65.8% (2024 est.)
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)
archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar
Military expenditure: 2024: 1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Information derived from worldfactbook.io (Lupon Media), open successor to the CIA World Factbook. Data sourced from World Bank, IMF, UN and other international organizations.