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Seychelles |
Capital: Victoria
Languages: Creole 91.8%, English 4.9% (official), other 3.1%, unspecified 0.2% (2002 census)
Currency: Seychelles rupee (SCR)
Background: 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. Since independence, 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 in order 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.
PEOPLE
Population: 81,895 (July 2007 est.); 88,340 (July 2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
2007
Total Population: 72.34 years
Male: 66.98 years
Female: 77.86 years (2007 est.)
2010
Total population: 73.28 years
Male: 68.6 years
Female: 78.09 years (2010 est.)
Age structure:
2007
0-14 years: 25.4% (male 10,504/female 10,272)
15-64 years: 68.5% (male 27,405/female 28,706)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 1,590/female 3,418) (2007 est.)
2010
0-14 years: 22.8% (male 10,201/female 9,732)
15-64 years: 70.1% (male 31,870/female 29,439)
65 years and over: 7.1% (male 2,321/female 3,913) (2010 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.432% (2007 est.); 0.966% (2010 est.)
Population below poverty line: N/A
HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate: N/A
People living with HIV/AIDS: N/A
Literacy - definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total Population: 91.8%
Male: 91.4%
Female: 92.3% (2002 census)
Refugees and Internally Displaced People: N/A
ECONOMY
Unemployment rate: N/A
Labour force by Occupation: N/A
Agricultural 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
Exports - Commodities: canned tuna, frozen fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (re-exports)
Exports - Partners:
UK 26.3%, France 18.1%, Italy 12.3%, Japan 8.5%, Spain 8.3%, Netherlands 4.5% (2006)
UK 24.84%, France 18.53%, Italy 9.45%, Mauritius 9.03%, Japan 6.98%, Spain 4.92% (2009)
Imports - Commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals
Imports - Partners:
Saudi Arabia 17.6%, South Africa 9.6%, Spain 8.1%, France 7.5%, Singapore 7.2%, Italy 4.8%, UK 4% (2006)
Saudi Arabia 16.44%, India 8.33%, Spain 7.49%, South Africa 6.72%, France 6.39%, Brazil 6.07%, Singapore 5.07% (2009)
ENVIRONMENT
Environment - Current issues: water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater
Natural hazards: lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; short droughts possible
Source: CIA World Factbook
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