Seychelles Islands

The main languages spoken in Seychelles are:
Seychellois Creole - the most widely spoken official language, ~89.1% of the population, blending French with African and Malagasy influences.
English - also official, ~5.1%, used in government and education.
French - also official, ~0.7%.
Seychellois Creole, English, and French are all official languages of Seychelles.

Geography

Location: Southern Africa, an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar

Map references: Africa

Area:
total: 452-455 sq km

People

Population: 98,187-135,139 (varies by source; 2024-2026 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.95%
15-64 years: 72.58%
65 years and over: 9.47% (2023 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population 75.0 years (World Bank, 2025); women live on average 9 years longer than men

Infant mortality rate: 13.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Nationality:
noun/adjective: Seychellois

Ethnic groups: predominantly Creole (mainly of East African and Malagasy heritage); also French, Indian, Chinese, and Arab populations; Indians are the largest non-Seychellois population (about half of all foreigners), followed by Malagasy

Religions: Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 10.5% (includes Anglican)

Languages: Seychellois Creole (official) 89.1%, English (official) 5.1%, French (official) 0.7%, other 3.8%, unspecified 1.4% (2010 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles
conventional short form: Seychelles

Data code: SE

Government type: presidential republic

National capital: Victoria

Independence: 29 June 1976 (from the UK)

Background: the French established plantations in the 18th century, primarily cultivating cinnamon and sugar, attracting a diverse workforce including enslaved Africans, Indian workers, and Malagasy people, giving rise to a unique Creole culture; the British took control during the Napoleonic Wars in 1810; gained a greater degree of self-governance in 1964 and achieved full independence from Britain in 1976; political instability followed, including a 1977 coup that brought France-Albert Rene to power

Economy

Economy - overview: high-income Indian Ocean island economy; rapidly growing tourism sector; major tuna exporter and offshore financial hub; environmentally fragile, investing in ocean-rise mitigation; recently discovered offshore oil potential; successful anti-corruption efforts

GDP (purchasing power parity): $2.17-2.2 billion (2024-2025 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 3.5% (2025)

GDP - per capita: $17,858 (2025 est.)

Currency: Seychellois rupee (SCR)

Military

Military branches: Seychelles People's Defense Forces (SPDF): Army (includes infantry, special forces, and presidential security unit), Coast Guard, Air Force; Ministry of Internal Affairs: Seychelles Police Force (2025)

Military - note: formed in 1977, the SPDF is one of the world's smallest militaries; primary responsibility is maritime security, including countering illegal fishing, piracy, and drug smuggling; given police powers in 2022; maintains close security ties with India (2025)