UN SYSTEM-WIDE EARTHWATCH Web Site
ISLAND DIRECTORY
Seychelles [9]
(Independent in 1976 from United Kingdom)
LAND AREA: 444 sq. km SEA AREA: 1374000 sq. km
NUMBER OF ISLANDS BY SIZE (sq. km):
| >17,000 |
>10,000 |
>1,000 |
>100 |
>10 |
>1 |
<1 |
Unknown |
TOTAL |
| 0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
91 |
92 |
DEMOGRAPHY
POPULATION: 76000 (1996)
DENSITY: 171 persons/sq. km GROWTH RATE: 1%/year
POP AGR/FISH/MINING: 19%
URBAN POP: 54% (1994), versus 25% (1960), Annual Growth: 2.4%
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 72.0 years, ADULT LITERACY: 88.0%
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX: 0.845
ECONOMY
GNP: US$0.5 billion, Annual GNP Growth Rate 1980-1993: 3.9%, Annual Growth Rate GNP/Capita: 3.4%
GDP/Capita: $4974 GDP/Capita PPP: $7891
GDP/Capita: 1960 $1803, 1970 $2044, 1980 $3536, 1990 $4400
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE: $13 million ODA%GNP: 2.8%
ODA/Capita: $186
ENVIRONMENT (see also individual islands)
TOTAL FOREST AREA: 4,000 ha, 8.9% of land area, 0.1 ha/capita
NATURAL FOREST AREA: 3,000 ha
ARABLE LAND: 2.2% of land area
SPECIES OF CONSERVATION INTEREST:
Plants:
2000 species, including 80 endemic
Birds:
15 land birds
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION: 1726 kw-hr/capita, versus 135 kw-hr/cap (1970)
INSTITUTIONS
GOVERNMENT ENVIRONMENT/SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY:
Division of Environment, moved to President's Office, June 1989;
Seychelles National Environment Commission, chaired by the Minister for
Planning and External Relations
ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION:
Breadfruit and Other Trees Protection Act, 1917, amended 1988;
Town and Country Planning Act, 1972 (Cap 160);
Bird's Eggs Act, 1933;
Public Health Act, 1960;
National Parks and Nature Conservancy Act, 1969;
Beach Control Act, 1971
Coco de Mer (Management) Decree, 1978;
Removal of Sand and Gravel Act, 1982;
Fisheries Act, 1986;
Environment Protection Act, 1988.
Party to CITES.
ENVIRONMENT/SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS:
Seychelles Island Foundation, s/o State House, Mah
REFERENCES:
Last updated 11/02/98
Islands of Seychelles
Aldabra (Seychelles)
Aride (Seychelles)
Bird (Seychelles)
Cousin (Seychelles)
Curieuse (Seychelles)
Denis (Seychelles)
Frigate (Seychelles)
La Digue (Seychelles)
Mahe (Seychelles)
Mamelle (Seychelles)
Praslin (Seychelles)
Recif (Seychelles)
Silhouette (Seychelles)
St Anne (Seychelles)
The Brisans (Seychelles)
Return to Island Directory Home Page
Return to Earthwatch Home Page
NOTE: For an explanation of each field, click on the colon (:)
Page last updated: 02/03/98