Countries of the World (Africa) - Seychelles
Fourth country from Africa in my new geography series.
Jay LeBlanc
2/18/20265 min read
Section I - Basic Info on Seychelles
Official Name: Republic of Seychelles
Population: 134,130 (185th largest in the world, Smallest in Africa)
Area/Size: 176 square miles (a little larger than the city of New Orleans, LA)
Capital: Victoria (28,000 - sister city of Qingdao, China)
Spoken Languages: Seychellois Creole, English, French (all official)
Religions: Catholic (82%), Protestant (12%), agnostic (2%)
Life Expectancy: 76.9 years Internet Access Rate: 87.4%
Per Capita Income: $33.239 Unemployment: NA
What do they Export?: Fish, scrap iron, animal meal (economy based on tourism)
Export Partners: France (20%), Mauritius (12%), U.K. (9%), Japan (9%)
Import Partners: United Arab Emirates (32%), Spain (10%), France (6%), India (6%)
Government Type: Presidential republic (competitive, free elections)
Section II - Images of Seychelles
6 Key Dates/Periods in Seychelles History
In this case a relatively small section, given the lack of extensive inhabitation of the islands. So this will serve as a quick summary of the past 400 years.
1503 - 1609 - There are no records or evidence of occupation of the islands before the 18th century, though it is possible that migrating groups stopped there on their way elsewhere. The first recorded sighting was made by Vasco da Gama and his 4th Portuguese India Armada in March 1503 on their way to India - later they mapped a group of seven islands and named them The Seven Sisters. The earliest recorded landing was in Jan 1609, by crew members of the British East India Company.
1742 - 1770 - France turned its attention to the Seychelles, with the aim of finding a faster passage from Mauritius to India. The French sent the explorer Lazare Picault to discover and claim the archipelago in 1742, then sent 15 settlers (along with a dozen slaves) to establish a settlement in 1770. The French decided to settle in the Seychelles both to take advantage of their strategic position in relation to India and to start growing spices in an attempt to compete with the Dutch spice trade. During this time the island group was named after Viscount Jean Moreau de Séchelles, Minister of Finance during the reign of Louis XV.
1770 - 1814 - After establishment of the French colony in 1770, large quantities of slaves were brought from Mauritius (Creoles born of African and European parents), Madagascar, Mozambique and, to a lesser extent, India. This led to a strong mix of ethnic groups and determined the multi-ethnic and multicultural character of the population, which is still visible today. It is still possible to observe strong French influences, not only in surnames and geographical names, but also in the cuisine and language.
1814 - 1900 - In the wake of the Napoleonic wars (during which the Seychelles was occupied by the British navy), the Treaty of Paris (1814) ceded the Seychelles and other French Indian Ocean colonies to Great Britain. However, the islands maintained the culture that had originated from the original slaves and settlers, and slavery still dealt with the cultivation of coconut palms, cotton, and spices. When slavery was abolished throughout the British territories in 1835, several hundred freed African slaves arrived in the Seychelles and went to work on the remaining plantations in exchange for food rations and wages. Another factor that contributed to the multiculturalism of the Seychelles was the role that the islands played during British control as a place of exile for political prisoners. Seychelles became a separate crown colony from Mauritius in 1903.
Jun 29, 1976 - After World War II, the British empire began to offer more elements of self-government, including local elections and the formation of political parties. On June 29, 1976 Seychelles declared its' independence peacefully - subsequently it joined the British Commonwealth.
1977 - 1993 - Seychelles' initial government was overthrown in a coup within a year, and the subsequent government declared itself a socialist one-party state. In the 1980s there were a series of coup attempts against the socialist government, some of which were supported by South Africa. In the most famous attempt in 1981, Mike Hoare led a team of 43 South African mercenaries masquerading as holidaying rugby players in a coup d'état attempt. There was a gun battle at the airport, and most of the mercenaries later escaped in a hijacked Air India plane. Eventually in 1993 a new constitution was approved allowing other political parties, and transitions of power became much more peaceful.
Other Non-Political Issues
Section III - Issues of Seychelles
General Information on Seychelles:
“All About Seychelles", Africa.com, Jan 2026, https://africa.com/heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-seychelles/
“Seychelles", One World Nations Online, Jan 2025, https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/seychelles.htm
“A guide to São Tomé and Príncipe”, Lonely Planet, Sep 2025, https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/guide-to-sao-tome-principe
“Seychelles", Wikipedia, Jan 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seychelles or https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seychelles
"Experience Seychelles" (national tourism site), 2026, https://www.seychelles.com/home
“The World Factbook - Seychelles", Central Intelligence Agency, Jan 2026, https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/seychelles/
Current Events Stories on Seychelles:
"‘A Quantum Leap In Coral Reef Restoration’: Harnessing Science To Protect Seychelles’ Marine Wealth", Forbes Africa, Sep 2025, https://www.forbesafrica.com/current-affairs/2025/09/17/a-quantum-leap-in-coral-reef-restoration-harnessing-science-to-protect-seychelles-marine-wealth
"Aldabra Atoll", UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Jul 2025, https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/185 and https://www.sif.sc/aldabra
“Seychelles Explained in 12 Minutes (History, Geography, & Culture)” (video), Opentiera, 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62KYa6phtdg
“Seychelles’s Patrick Herminie wins presidential run-off election", Al-Jazeera, Oct 2025, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/12/seychelless-patrick-herminie-wins-presidential-run-off-election
“Seychelles' president-elect set to halt tourist development on tiny island", BBC News, Oct 2025, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx204v0zwnxo
Other Interesting Links Related To Seychelles:
"Best time to visit the Seychelles: when to go and what to do", The Times (U.K.), Jan 2023, https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/africa-travel/seychelles/best-time-visit-seychelles-wjxcgx0n5?
“History of the Seychelles”, SeyVillas, 2025, https://www.seyvillas.com/en/guide/at-a-glance/history
"Island-Hopping: Love nuts from the Seychelles" (video), CBS Sunday Morning, 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odT3Kl0skzk
"Seychelles National Museum", 2025, https://seychellesnationalmuseums.org/
"Victoria: the Creole capital of Seychelles has plenty to celebrate", Lonely Planet, Mar 2019, https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/victoria-seychelles