Part 739

Geography - note: 40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands

@Seychelles:People

Population: 78,107 (July 1997 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 30.2% (male 11,885; female 11,708) 15-64 years: 63.5% (male 24,336; female 25,293) 65 years and over: 6.3% (male 1,698; female 3,187) (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.7% (1997 est.)

Birth rate: 20.53 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate: 7.14 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Net migration rate: -6.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over : 0.53 male(s)/female total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 12.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population : 69.57 years male: 64.81 years female: 74.47 years (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.06 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Nationality: noun: Seychellois (singular and plural) adjective: Seychelles

Ethnic groups: Seychellois (mixture of Asians, Africans, Europeans)

Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Anglican 8%, other 2%

Languages: English (official), French (official), Creole

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 58% male: 56% female: 60% (1971 est.)

@Seychelles:Government

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles conventional short form: Seychelles

Data code: SE

Government type: republic

National 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 Larue, Port Glaud, Saint Louis, Takamaka

Independence: 29 June 1976 (from UK)

National holiday: National Day, 18 June (1993) (adoption of new constitution)

Constitution: 18 June 1993

Legal system: based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law

Suffrage: 17 years of age; universal