Seychelles at a Glance
Geography
The country of Seychelles is an archipelago made up of 116 islands resting
in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa. The country of Seychelles is only 2.5 times the size of Washington D.C. and its capitol Victoria is the smallest capital city in record.The land consists of lush tropical vegetation, white sand beaches, and coral
reef atolls. The weather on Seychelles is consistently warm and humid with rain fall averaging from 90 to 140 inches a year. The island is also home to many rare
species of animal including giant tortoises, rare game fish, and exotic birds.
The country of Seychelles is an archipelago made up of 116 islands resting
in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa. The country of Seychelles is only 2.5 times the size of Washington D.C. and its capitol Victoria is the smallest capital city in record.The land consists of lush tropical vegetation, white sand beaches, and coral
reef atolls. The weather on Seychelles is consistently warm and humid with rain fall averaging from 90 to 140 inches a year. The island is also home to many rare
species of animal including giant tortoises, rare game fish, and exotic birds.
Political Map of Seychelles (Word Press)
Population
As of 2016, the population of Seychelles was 94,677, which ranks it as the 195th most populous country in the world. Despite the small population, there are an estimated 483 people per square mile which makes for very densely populated cities. In fact, the capital Victoria is home to about 25 percent of the total population of the country. Since there was never an indigenous population living there, the people residing in the country are made up exclusively of immigrants and their descendants. Due to the slavery and colonization of early Seychelles, the population consists of about 90 percent Seychellois Creole people, who are a mixture of descendants from the African slaves and their colonial counter parts. The final 10 percent of the population is made up of British, French, Chinese, and Indian people. The wide variety of ethnicities residing in Seychelles makes it a cultural melting pot. |
Seychelles Children (Seychelles News Agency)
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Religion and Politics
In Seychelles, 82 percent of the population practices Roman Catholicism and 6.4 percent practice Anglican Christianity. Hindu and Islam are also found within the country. There is a large amount of superstitious people living on the island and witchcraft is widely practiced. Seychelles is a republic with a head of state known as the president who can serve for up to ten consecutive years. An advisory board made up of a council of ministers helps aid the president in decision and policy making. Suffrage is universal in Seychelles and women play a large role in politics. There are two main parties in Seychelles, the People's Party and the Democratic Party which has recently come into power. |
Language
There are three official languages in Seychelles: French, English, and the Seselwa Creole. The use of the French language has diminished since French colonizers left the country, but it is still used in formal settings and in the Catholic church. English is taught in schools and is the primary language used in business, tourism and government through out the country. The most commonly used language is the creole also known as Seselwa or the Seychellois Creole. A total of 95 percent of the population use this language in schools, government, and the media. It is a combination of the French language mixed with the syntax of the African and Asian languages used during slavery. This language is of high cultural significance to those who speak it.
There are three official languages in Seychelles: French, English, and the Seselwa Creole. The use of the French language has diminished since French colonizers left the country, but it is still used in formal settings and in the Catholic church. English is taught in schools and is the primary language used in business, tourism and government through out the country. The most commonly used language is the creole also known as Seselwa or the Seychellois Creole. A total of 95 percent of the population use this language in schools, government, and the media. It is a combination of the French language mixed with the syntax of the African and Asian languages used during slavery. This language is of high cultural significance to those who speak it.
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