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seychelles |
2 definitions found From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: Seychelles n 1: a republic on the Seychelles islands [syn: {Seychelles}] 2: a group of 86 islands north of Madagascar [syn: {Seychelles}] From The CIA World Factbook (1995) [world95]: Seychelles Seychelles:Geography Location: Eastern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar Map references: Africa Area: total area: 455 sq km land area: 455 sq km comparative area: slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 491 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: claims Tromelin Island Climate: tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May) Terrain: Mahe Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky, hilly; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs Natural resources: fish, copra, cinnamon trees Land use: arable land: 4% permanent crops: 18% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 18% other: 60% Irrigated land: NA sq km Environment: current issues: no natural fresh water resources, catchments collect rain water natural hazards: lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare short droughts possible international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Desertification Note: 40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands Seychelles:People Population: 72,709 (July 1995 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 32% (female 11,630; male 11,811) 15-64 years: 62% (female 23,229; male 21,679) 65 years and over: 6% (female 2,875; male 1,485) (July 1995 est.) Population growth rate: 0.81% (1995 est.) Birth rate: 21.35 births/1,000 population (1995 est.) Death rate: 6.7 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.) Net migration rate: -6.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.) Infant mortality rate: 11.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.08 years male: 66.54 years female: 73.73 years (1995 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.16 children born/woman (1995 est.) Nationality: noun: Seychellois (singular and plural) adjective: Seychelles Ethnic divisions: Seychellois (mixture of Asians, Africans, Europeans) Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Anglican 8%, other 2% Languages: English (official), French (official), Creole Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1971) total population: 58% male: 56% female: 60% Labor force: 27,700 (1985) by occupation: industry and commerce 31%, services 21%, government 20%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 12%, other 16% (1985) Seychelles:Government Names: conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles conventional short form: Seychelles Digraph: SE Type: republic Capital: Victoria Administrative divisions: 23 administrative districts; Anse aux Pins, Anse Boileau Anse Etoile, Anse Louis, Anse Royale, Baie Lazare, Baie Sainte Anne, Beau Vallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade, Glacis, Grand' Anse (on Mahe Island), Grand' Anse (on Praslin Island), La Digue, La Riviere Anglaise Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe Larue, Port Glaud, Saint Louis, Takamaka Independence: 29 June 1976 (from UK) National holiday: National Day 18 June (1993) (adoption of new constitution) Constitution: 18 June 1993 Legal system: based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977); election last held 20-23 July 1993 (next to be held NA); results - President France Albert RENE (SPPF) reelected with 59.5% of the vote, Sir James MANCHAM DP 36.72% cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly (Assemblee du Peuple): elections last held 20-23 July 1993 (next to be held NA); results - SPPF 82%, DP 15%, UO 3%; seats - (33 total, 22 elected, 11 awarded) seats elected - SPPF 21, DP 1; seats awarded - SPPF 6, DP 4, UO 1; total seats by party - SPPF 27, DP 5, UO 1 note: the 11 awarded seats are apportioned according to the share of each party in the total vote Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: ruling party - Seychelles People's Progressive Front (SPPF), France Albert RENE; Democratic Party (DP), Sir James MANCHAM; United Opposition (UO), Annette GEORGES - a coalition of the following parties: Seychelles Party (PS), Wavel RAMKALAWAN Seychelles Democratic Movement (MSPD), Jacques HONDOUL Seychelles Liberal Party (SLP), Ogilvie BERLOUIS;; Other political or pressure groups: trade unions; Roman Catholic Church Member of: ACCT, ACP, AfDB C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, NAM, OAU, UN UNCTAD UNESCO, UNIDO UPU, WCL, WHO WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Marc R. MARENGO chancery: (temporary) 820 Second Avenue, Suite 900F, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 687-9766, 9767 FAX: [1] (212) 922-9177 US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Carl Burton STOKES embassy: 4th Floor, Victoria House, Box 251, Victoria, Mahe mailing address: Box 148, Unit 62501, Victoria, Seychelles; APO AE 09815-2501 telephone: [248] 225256 FAX: [248] 225189 Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), white (wavy), and green; the white band is the thinnest, the red band is the thickest Economy Overview: Since independence in 1976, per capita output has grown to roughly seven times the old near-subsistence level, led by the tourist sector, which employs about 30% of the labor force and provides more than 70% of hard currency earnings. 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 high dependence on tourism by promoting the development of farming, fishing, and small-scale manufacturing. The vulnerability of the tourist sector was illustrated by the sharp drop in 1991-92 due largely to the Gulf war. Although the industry has rebounded, the government recognizes the continuing need for upgrading the sector in the face of stiff international competition. National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $430 million (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: -2% (1993 est.) National product per capita: $6,000 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.9% (1993 est.) Unemployment rate: 9% (1987) Budget: revenues: $227.4 million expenditures: $263 million, including capital expenditures of $54 million (1993 est.) Exports: $50 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (re-exports) partners: France 43%, UK 22%, Reunion 11%, (1992) Imports: $261 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: manufactured goods, food, petroleum products, tobacco, beverages, machinery and transportation equipment partners: Singapore 16%, Bahrain 16%, South Africa, 14%, UK 13% (1992) External debt: $181 million (1993 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 4% (1992); accounts for 12% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 30,000 kW production: 110 million kWh consumption per capita: 1,399 kWh (1993) Industries: tourism, processing of coconut and vanilla, fishing, coir rope factory, boat building, printing, furniture, beverage Agriculture: accounts for 5% of GDP, mostly subsistence farming; cash crops - coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla; other products - sweet potatoes, cassava, bananas; broiler chickens; large share of food needs imported; expansion of tuna fishing under way Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY78-89), $26 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1978-89), $315 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $5 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $60 million Currency: 1 Seychelles rupee (SRe) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Seychelles rupees (SRe) per US$1 - 4.9371 (January 1995), 5.0559 (1994), 5.1815 (1993), 5.1220 (1992), 5.2893 (1991), 5.3369 (1990) Fiscal year: calendar year Seychelles:Transportation Railroads: 0 km Highways: total: 260 km paved: 160 km unpaved: crushed stone, earth 100 km Ports: Victoria Merchant marine: none Airports: total: 14 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 5 with paved runways under 914 m: 6 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 2 Seychelles:Communications Telephone system: 13,000 telephones; direct radio communications with adjacent islands and African coastal countries local: NA intercity: radio communications international: 1 INTELSAT (Indian Ocean) earth station Radio: broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0 radios: NA Television: broadcast stations: 2 televisions: NA Seychelles:Defense Forces Branches: Army, Coast Guard, Marines, National Guard, Presidential Protection Unit, Police Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 19,829; males fit for military service 10,099 (1995 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $12 million, 4% of GDP (1990 est.)
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