What is the population of Seychelles in 2025?

Seychelles has a population of 122,730 (122,730) according to World Bank, World Development Indicators data for 2025.

What is the capital of Seychelles?

The capital of Seychelles is Victoria.

How large is the economy of Seychelles?

Seychelles's GDP is $2.39B (2025, World Bank, World Development Indicators), which is $19,449 per capita.

Who leads Seychelles?

Head of state: Patrick Herminie (since October 26, 2025). Source: Wikidata, checked August 11, 2026.

Seychelles

Republic of Seychelles

Updated August 12, 2026

Population

122,730

2025 · World Bank

GDP

$2.39B

2025 · World Bank

GDP per capita

$19,449

2025 · World Bank

Area

452 km²

mledoze/countries reference dataset

Capital

Victoria

Median age

34.3 yrs

2025 · UN WPP

CIA World Factbook map of Seychelles, showing major cities, rivers and neighbouring countries — Map from The World Factbook, final edition. Public domain (17 U.S.C. § 105); boundary representation is not necessarily authoritative.

Capital: Victoria
Region: Africa
Subregion: Eastern Africa
Area: 452 km²
Languages: Seychellois Creole, English, French

#190 of 238 in population #189 of 222 in GDP #198 of 252 in area #79 of 213 in GDP per capita #106 of 228 in life expectancy

Leadership

Head of state: Patrick Herminie; In office since October 26, 2025

Wikidata (CC0), checked August 11, 2026. Frozen Factbook mirrors still list the officeholders of January 2026.

Then and now

The CIA World Factbook stopped updating in January 2026. This is what has changed since its final edition.

Final CIA World Factbook figures of January 2026 versus current data for Seychelles
Indicator	Factbook, final edition	Current	Change
Population	98,1872024	122,7302025	+25.0%
GDP (nominal)	$2.17B2024	$2.39B2025	+10.2%
Inflation rate	0.3%2024	0.3%2025	0.0 pp

Trends since 2000

Population +51% since 2000

81,131 (2000) 122,730 (2025)

GDP +265% since 2000

$654.21M (2000) $2.39B (2025)

GDP per capita +141% since 2000

$8,064 (2000) $19,449 (2025)

Inflation -95% since 2000

6.3% (2000) 0.3% (2025)

World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0).

7 facts about Seychelles

01 Seychelles ranks 190 of 238 in population, with 122,730 people as of 2025.
02 Its economy produced $2.39B in 2025, or $19,449 per person.
03 Seychelles has no land borders.
04 Population has grown 51% since 2000, from 81,131 to 122,730.
05 Prices sit at about 54% of United States levels (World Bank PPP data, 2025).
06 88% of the population uses the internet (2024).
07 It lists 3 official or major languages: Seychellois Creole, English, French.

Reference

Languages: Seychellois Creole, English, French
Currency: Seychellois rupee (SCR)
Calling code: +248
Internet TLD: .sc
Demonym: Seychellois
ISO codes: SC · SYC · 690

The Factbook archive 132 fields · 10 categories

The complete World Factbook entry for Seychelles: 132 fields and 209 sub-entries across 10 categories, kept whole as historical reference. A United States Government work in the public domain, reflecting data as of the final January 2026 edition; the live figures above supersede the fast-moving numbers in it. Last CIA update: January 13, 2026.

Seychelles and neighbouring land. Geometry: Natural Earth (public domain).

Introduction 1 field

Background: Seychelles was uninhabited before Europeans discovered the islands early in the 16th century. After a lengthy struggle, France eventually ceded control of the islands to Great Britain in 1814. During colonial rule, a plantation-based economy developed that relied on imported labor, primarily from European colonies in Africa. Seychelles gained independence in 1976 through negotiations with Great Britain. In 1977, Prime Minister France-Albert RENE launched a coup against the country’s first president, and Seychelles became a socialist one-party state until adopting a new constitution and holding elections in 1993. RENE continued to lead Seychelles through two election cycles until he stepped down in 2004. Vice President James Alix MICHEL took over the presidency and in 2006 was elected to a new five-year term; he was reelected in 2011 and again in 2015. In 2016, James MICHEL resigned and handed over the presidency to his vice-president, Danny FAURE. In 2020, Wavel RAMKALAWAN was elected president, the first time an opposition candidate has won the presidency.

Geography 17 fields

Location: archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates: 4 35 S, 55 40 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 455 sq km
land: 455 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 491 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
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 volcanic with a narrow coastal strip and rocky, hilly interior; others are relatively flat coral atolls, or elevated reefs; sits atop the submarine Mascarene Plateau
Elevation: highest point: Morne Seychellois 905 m
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
Natural resources: fish, coconuts (copra), cinnamon trees
Land use: agricultural land: 3.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
forest: 58.6% (2023 est.)
other: 38% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 3 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: more than three quarters of the population lives on the main island of Mahe; Praslin is home to less than 10%, and a smaller percentage is on La Digue and the outer islands, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards: lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; occasional short droughts
Geography - note: the smallest African country in terms of both area and population; the constitution of the Republic of Seychelles lists 155 islands, including 42 granitic and 113 coralline; the largest island by far is Mahe, which is home to about 90% of the population and is the site of the capital city of Victoria

People and Society 32 fields

Population: total: 98,187 (2024 est.)
male: 50,973
female: 47,214
Nationality: noun: Seychellois (singular and plural)
adjective: Seychellois
Ethnic groups: predominantly Creole (mainly of East African and Malagasy heritage); also French, Indian, Chinese, and Arab populations
Languages: Seychellois Creole (official) 89.1%, English (official) 5.1%, French (official) 0.7%, other 3.8%, unspecified 1.4% (2010 est.)
Religions: Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 10.5% (Anglican 6.1%, Pentecostal Assembly 1.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.2%, other Protestant 1.7%), other Christian 2.4%, Hindu 2.4%, Muslim 1.6%, other non-Christian 1.1%, unspecified 4.8%, none 0.9% (2010 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 17.7% (male 8,912/female 8,439)
15-64 years: 72.4% (male 37,841/female 33,210)
65 years and over: 10% (2024 est.) (male 4,220/female 5,565)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 38.2 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 24.4 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 13.8 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 7.3 (2024 est.)
Median age: total: 39.2 years (2025 est.)
male: 38.2 years
female: 39.4 years
Population growth rate: 0.53% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 11.59 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 7.02 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: more than three quarters of the population lives on the main island of Mahe; Praslin is home to less than 10%, and a smaller percentage is on La Digue and the outer islands, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization: urban population: 58.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 28,000 VICTORIA (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 42 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 10 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 12.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.6 years (2024 est.)
male: 72.2 years
female: 81.1 years
Total fertility rate: 1.8 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.89 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source: improved: total: total: 96.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 3.6% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 5.3% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 10.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 2.25 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
Hospital bed density: 3.2 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access: improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 14% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita: total: 9.48 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 4.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.49 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 4.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.25 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use: total: 20.5% (2025 est.)
male: 34.2% (2025 est.)
female: 5.2% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 44.6% (2022 est.)
Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 10.7% national budget (2025 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 13 years (2023 est.)
male: 13 years (2023 est.)
female: 15 years (2023 est.)

Environment 9 fields

Environmental issues: limited freshwater resources; water pollution; biodiversity
International environmental agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May)
Land use: agricultural land: 3.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0% (2022 est.)
forest: 58.6% (2023 est.)
other: 38% (2023 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 58.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions: 893,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 92 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 893,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 17.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 48,000 tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 24.4% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial: 3.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural: 900,000 cubic meters (2022 est.)

Government 23 fields

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles
conventional short form: Seychelles
local long form: Republic of Seychelles
local short form: Seychelles
etymology: named by French Captain Corneille Nicholas MORPHEY after Jean Moreau de SÉCHELLES, the finance minister of France, in 1756; the British changed the spelling of the name in 1815 when they acquired the islands
Government type: presidential republic
Capital: name: Victoria
geographic coordinates: 4 37 S, 55 27 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the British named the town Port Victoria in 1841 after Queen VICTORIA; the name was later shortened
Administrative divisions: 27 administrative districts; Anse aux Pins, Anse Boileau, Anse Etoile, Anse Royale, Au Cap, Baie Lazare, Baie Sainte Anne, Beau Vallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade, Glacis, Grand Anse Mahe, Grand Anse Praslin, Ile Persévérance I, Ile Persévérance II, La Digue, La Rivière Anglaise, Les Mamelles, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe Larue, Port Glaud, Roche Caiman, Saint Louis, Takamaka
Legal system: mixed system of English common law, French civil law, and customary law
Constitution: history: previous 1970, 1979; latest drafted May 1993, approved by referendum 18 June 1993, effective 23 June 1993
amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the National Assembly; passage of amendments affecting the country’s sovereignty, symbols and languages, the supremacy of the constitution, fundamental rights and freedoms, amendment procedures, and dissolution of the Assembly also requires approval by at least 60% of voters in a referendum
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of the Seychelles
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Patrick HERMINIE (since 26 October 2025)
head of government: President Patrick HERMINIE (since 26 October 2025)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
most recent election date: 9 October 2025
election results:
2025: Patrick HERMINIE elected president; Patrick HERMINIE (US) 52.7%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (LDS) 47.3%
expected date of next election: 2030
Legislative branch: legislature name: National Assembly
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 34 (all directly elected)
electoral system: mixed system
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 9/27/2025
parties elected and seats per party: United Seychelles (US) (19); Seychelles Democratic Alliance (Linyon Demokratik Seselwa, LDS) (15)
percentage of women in chamber: 26.5%
expected date of next election: September 2030
Judicial branch: highest court(s): Seychelles Court of Appeal (consists of the court president and 4 justices); Supreme Court of Seychelles (consists of the chief justice and 9 puisne judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 3 Supreme Court judges)
judge selection and term of office: all judges appointed by the president of the republic upon the recommendation of the Constitutional Appointments Authority, a 3-member body, with 1 member appointed by the president of the republic, 1 by the opposition leader in the National Assembly, and 1 by the other 2 appointees; judges serve until retirement at age 70
subordinate courts: Magistrates' Courts of Seychelles; Family Tribunal for issues such as domestic violence, child custody, and maintenance; Employment Tribunal for labor-related disputes
Political parties: Seychelles Party for Social Justice and Democracy or SPSJD
Seychellois Democratic Alliance or LDS (Linyon Demokratik Seselwa/Union Démocratique Seychelloise)
Seychelles National Party or SNP
United Seychelles or US
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Vivianne FOCK TAVE (since 16 December 2025); note - also Permanent Representative to the UN
chancery: 685 Third Avenue, Suite 1107, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785
FAX: [1] (212) 972-1786
email address and website: [email protected]

Foreign Affairs Department Republic of Seychelles » United States of America (mfa.gov.sc)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Henry V. JARDINE (since 22 February 2023) and Chargé d’Affaires Adham LOUTFI (since 6 October 2023); note - Ambassador JARDINE is posted in Mauritius and is accredited to Seychelles, and Chargé d’Affaires LOUTFI is posted in Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles
embassy: 2nd Floor, Oliaji Trade Center, Victoria Mahe, Seychelles; note - US Embassy in Seychelles reopened on 1 June 2023 after having been closed in 1996
telephone: [248] 422 5256
email address and website:
[email protected]

https://sc.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, C, CD, COMESA, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 29 June 1976 (from the UK)
National holiday: Constitution Day, 18 June (1993); Independence Day (National Day), 29 June (1976)
Flag: description: five expanding bands of blue, yellow, red, white, and green, radiating from the bottom left corner

meaning: the bands symbolize a dynamic new country moving into the future; blue stands for the sky and sea, yellow for the sun giving light and life, red for the people's determination to work for the future in unity and love, white for social justice and harmony, and green for the land and natural environment
National symbol(s): coco de mer (sea coconut)
National color(s): blue, yellow, red, white, green
National anthem(s): title: "Koste Seselwa" (Seychellois Unite)
lyrics/music: David Francois Marc ANDRE and George Charles Robert PAYET
history: adopted 1996
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Aldabra Atoll; Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve

Economy 27 fields

Economic overview: high-income Indian Ocean island economy; rapidly growing tourism sector; major tuna exporter; offshore financial hub; environmentally fragile and investing in ocean rise mitigation; recently discovered offshore oil potential; successful anticorruption efforts
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $3.549 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $3.43 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $3.354 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.5% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 12.7% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2024: $29,200 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $28,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $28,000 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $2.167 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 0.3% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: -1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 2.6% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 2.5% (2024 est.)
industry: 12.3% (2024 est.)
services: 65.8% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 74.6% (2024 est.)
government consumption: 26.3% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 17.2% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories: 0% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services: 85.2% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services: -103.2% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: coconuts, vegetables, bananas, eggs, chicken, pork, fruits, tomatoes, tropical fruits, cassava (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries: fishing, tourism, beverages
Industrial production growth rate: -6.4% (2024 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Population below poverty line: 25.3% (2018 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018: 32.1 (2018 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6% (2018 est.)
highest 10%: 23.9% (2018 est.)
Remittances: Remittances 2023: 0.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 0.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 0.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget: revenues: $695.973 million (2023 est.)
expenditures: $728.171 million (2023 est.)
Public debt: Public debt 2017: 63.6% of GDP (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 26.18% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Current account balance: Current account balance 2023: -$155.194 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$141.648 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2021: -$160.168 million (2021 est.)
Exports: Exports 2023: $2.375 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $2.247 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2021: $1.751 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners: France 20%, Mauritius 12%, UK 9%, Japan 8%, Italy 8% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports - commodities: fish, scrap iron, animal meal, broadcasting equipment, ships (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports: Imports 2023: $2.437 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $2.298 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2021: $1.821 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners: UAE 32%, Spain 10%, France 6%, South Africa 6%, India 6% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, fish, ships, cars, plastic products (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $773.678 million (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $682.794 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $638.961 million (2022 est.)
Exchange rates: Currency: Seychelles rupees (SCR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 14.53 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 14.018 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 14.273 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 16.921 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 17.617 (2020 est.)

Energy 6 fields

Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 156,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 581.227 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 44.034 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 86.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 12.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal: imports: 500 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption: 6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 98.847 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Communications 6 fields

Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 18,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 14 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 165,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 192 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: state-run national broadcaster Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) has the only terrestrial TV station, which also airs broadcasts from international services; privately owned Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) channel; multi-channel cable and satellite TV available through 2 providers; SBC operates 1 AM and 1 FM radio station; 2 privately operated radio stations; transmissions of 2 international broadcasters available in Victoria (2019)
Internet country code: .sc
Internet users: percent of population: 87% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 39,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2023 est.)

Transportation 5 fields

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: S7
Airports: 16 (2025)
Heliports: 6 (2025)
Merchant marine: total: 30 (2023)
by type: general cargo 6, oil tanker 6, other 18
Ports: total ports: 1 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 0
small: 0
very small: 1
ports with oil terminals: 1
key ports: Victoria

Military and Security 6 fields

Military and security forces: Seychelles People's Defense Forces (SPDF; aka Seychelles Defense Forces, SDF): Army (includes infantry, special forces, and a presidential security unit), Coast Guard, and Air Force

Ministry of Internal Affairs: Seychelles Police Force (2025)
Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024: 1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 1.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 500 active Defense Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the SDF is lightly armed; its inventory consists of obsolescent armaments delivered in the 1970s and 1980s and some more recently donated equipment from Bahrain, China, India, and UAE (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-35 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2026)
Military - note: formed in 1977, the SDF is one of the World's smallest militaries; its primary responsibility is maritime security, including countering illegal fishing, piracy, and drug smuggling; it was given police powers in 2022; the Seychelles maintains close security ties with India, which has provided support to the SDF's maritime security operations (2025)

Frequently asked

What is the population of Seychelles in 2025?: Seychelles has a population of 122,730 (122,730) according to World Bank, World Development Indicators data for 2025.
What is the capital of Seychelles?: The capital of Seychelles is Victoria.
How large is the economy of Seychelles?: Seychelles's GDP is $2.39B (2025, World Bank, World Development Indicators), which is $19,449 per capita.
Who leads Seychelles?: Head of state: Patrick Herminie (since October 26, 2025). Source: Wikidata, checked August 11, 2026.

Location

Leadership

Then and now

Trends since 2000

7 facts about Seychelles

Reference

The Factbook archive 132 fields · 10 categories

Introduction 1 field

Geography 17 fields

People and Society 32 fields

Environment 9 fields

Government 23 fields

Economy 27 fields

Energy 6 fields

Communications 6 fields

Transportation 5 fields

Military and Security 6 fields

Frequently asked