Seychelles People - 2023

Population

97,617 (2023 est.)

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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.)

Demographic profile

Seychelles has no indigenous population and was first permanently settled by a small group of French planters, African slaves, and South Indians in 1770. Seychelles’ modern population is composed of the descendants of French and later British settlers, Africans, and Indian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern traders and is concentrated on three of its 155 islands – the vast majority on Mahe and lesser numbers on Praslin and La Digue. Seychelles’ population grew rapidly during the second half of the 20th century, largely due to natural increase, but the pace has slowed because of fertility decline. The total fertility rate dropped sharply from 4.0 children per woman in 1980 to 1.9 in 2015, mainly as a result of a family planning program, free education and health care, and increased female labor force participation. Life expectancy has increased steadily, but women on average live 9 years longer than men, a difference that is higher than that typical of developed countries.

The combination of reduced fertility and increased longevity has resulted in an aging population, which will put pressure on the government’s provision of pensions and health care. Seychelles’ sustained investment in social welfare services, such as free primary health care and education up to the post-secondary level, have enabled the country to achieve a high human development index score – among the highest in Africa. Despite some of its health and education indicators being nearly on par with Western countries, Seychelles has a high level of income inequality.

An increasing number of migrant workers – mainly young men – have been coming to Seychelles in recent years to work in the construction and tourism industries. As of 2011, foreign workers made up nearly a quarter of the workforce. Indians are the largest non-Seychellois population – representing half of the country’s foreigners – followed by Malagasy.

Age structure

0-14 years: 17.95% (male 8,999/female 8,524)

15-64 years: 72.58% (male 37,677/female 33,177)

65 years and over: 9.47% (2023 est.) (male 3,956/female 5,284)

total dependency ratio: 45

youth dependency ratio: 33.6

elderly dependency ratio: 11.4

potential support ratio: 8.7 (2021 est.)

Median age

total: 36.8 years

male: 36.3 years

female: 37.4 years (2020 est.)

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Population growth rate

0.6% (2023 est.)

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Birth rate

12.1 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

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Death rate

6.9 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

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Net migration rate

0.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

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Population distribution

more than three-quarters of the population lives on the main island of Mahe; Praslin contains less than 10%; a smaller percent 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: 0.75 male(s)/female

total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

3 deaths/100,000 live births (2020)

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Infant mortality rate

total: 10.38 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 13.07 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 7.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)

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Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.36 years

male: 71.96 years

female: 80.89 years (2023 est.)

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Total fertility rate

1.81 children born/woman (2023 est.)

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Gross reproduction rate

0.89 (2023 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Drinking water source

improved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 96.2% of population

unimproved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 3.8% of population (2017 est.)

Current health expenditure

6.4% of GDP (2020)

Physicians density

2.25 physicians/1,000 population (2019)

Hospital bed density

3.6 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 100% of population

unimproved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

14% (2016)

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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.)

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Tobacco use

total: 20.2% (2020 est.)

male: 34% (2020 est.)

female: 6.4% (2020 est.)

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Children under the age of 5 years underweight

3.6% (2012)

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Currently married women (ages 15-49)

45% (2023 est.)

Education expenditures

5.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

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Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 95.9%

male: 95.4%

female: 96.4% (2018)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years

male: 13 years

female: 16 years (2021)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 16.5%

male: 17.5%

female: 15.6% (2020 est.)

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NOTE: The information regarding Seychelles on this page is re-published from the 2023 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Seychelles 2023 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Seychelles 2023 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.