18%; other 60%

_#_Environment: lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are
rare; short droughts possible; no fresh water, catchments collect rain;
40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands

_#_Note: located north-northeast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean

_*_People
_#_Population: 68,932 (July 1991), growth rate 0.9% (1991)

_#_Birth rate: 23 births/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Net migration rate: - 8 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Infant mortality rate: 15 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

_#_Life expectancy at birth: 65 years male, 75 years female (1991)

_#_Total fertility rate: 2.5 children born/woman (1991)

_#_Nationality: noun--Seychellois (sing. and pl.);
adjective--Seychelles

_#_Ethnic divisions: Seychellois (mixture of Asians, Africans,
Europeans)

_#_Religion: Roman Catholic 90%, Anglican 8%, other 2%

_#_Language: English and French (official); Creole

_#_Literacy: 58% (male 56%, female 60%) age 15 and over can
read and write (1971)

_#_Labor force: 27,700; industry and commerce 31%, services 21%,
government 20%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 12%, other 16% (1985);
57% of population of working age (1983)

_#_Organized labor: three major trade unions

_*_Government
_#_Long-form name: Republic of Seychelles

_#_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 La Rue, Port Glaud, Saint Louis, Takamaka

_#_Independence: 29 June 1976 (from UK)

_#_Constitution: 5 June 1979

_#_Legal system: based on English common law, French civil law, and
customary law

_#_National holiday: Liberation Day (anniversary of coup), 5 June
(1977)

_#_Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers

_#_Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly (Assemblee
du Peuple)

_#_Judicial branch: Court of Appeal, Supreme Court

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President France Albert
RENE (since 5 June 1977)

_#_Political parties and leaders: only party--Seychelles People's
Progressive Front (SPPF), France Albert RENE