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Compare Seychelles (2002) - Bahamas, The (2003)

Compare Seychelles (2002) z Bahamas, The (2003)

 Seychelles (2002)Bahamas, The (2003)
 SeychellesBahamas, The
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), Grand' Anse (on Praslin), La Digue, La Riviere Anglaise, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe La Rue, Port Glaud, Saint Louis, Takamaka 21 districts; Acklins and Crooked Islands, Bimini, Cat Island, Exuma, Freeport, Fresh Creek, Governor's Harbour, Green Turtle Cay, Harbour Island, High Rock, Inagua, Kemps Bay, Long Island, Marsh Harbour, Mayaguana, New Providence, Nichollstown and Berry Islands, Ragged Island, Rock Sound, Sandy Point, San Salvador and Rum Cay
Age structure 0-14 years: 27.8% (male 11,238; female 11,002)


15-64 years: 66% (male 25,763; female 27,086)


65 years and over: 6.2% (male 1,667; female 3,342) (2002 est.)
0-14 years: 28.8% (male 42,799; female 42,730)


15-64 years: 65.4% (male 95,718; female 98,875)


65 years and over: 5.8% (male 7,092; female 10,263) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), bananas; broiler chickens; tuna fish citrus, vegetables; poultry
Airports 14 (2001) 64 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 7


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 2 (2002)
total: 30


over 3,047 m: 2


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3


1,524 to 2,437 m: 12


914 to 1,523 m: 11


under 914 m: 2 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 7


914 to 1,523 m: 3


under 914 m: 4 (2002)
total: 34


1,524 to 2,437 m: 3


914 to 1,523 m: 9


under 914 m: 22 (2002)
Area total: 455 sq km


land: 455 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 13,940 sq km


land: 10,070 sq km


water: 3,870 sq km
Area - comparative 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than Connecticut
Background A lengthy struggle between France and Great Britain for the islands ended in 1814, when they were ceded to the latter. Independence came in 1976. Socialist rule was brought to a close with a new constitution and free elections in 1993. Arawak Indians inhabited the islands when Christopher Columbus first set foot in the New World on San Salvador in 1492. British settlement of the islands began in 1647; the islands became a colony in 1783. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973, The Bahamas have prospered through tourism and international banking and investment management. Because of its geography, the country is a major transshipment point for illegal drugs, particularly shipments to the US, and its territory is used for smuggling illegal migrants into the US.
Birth rate 17.27 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 18.57 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $249 million


expenditures: $262 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.) (1998 est.)
revenues: $918.5 million


expenditures: $956.5 million, including capital expenditures of $106.7 million (FY 99/00)
Capital Victoria Nassau
Climate tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May) tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
Coastline 491 km 3,542 km
Constitution 18 June 1993 10 July 1973
Country name conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles


conventional short form: Seychelles
conventional long form: Commonwealth of The Bahamas


conventional short form: The Bahamas
Currency Seychelles rupee (SCR) Bahamian dollar (BSD)
Death rate 6.57 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 8.68 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $240 million (1999 est.) $371.6 million (2001)
Diplomatic representation from the US the US does not have an embassy in Seychelles; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to the Seychelles chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affairs Robert M. WITAJEWSKI


embassy: 42 Queen Street, Nassau


mailing address: local or express mail address: P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau; Department of State, 3370 Nassau Place, Washington, DC 20521-3370


telephone: [1] (242) 322-1181, 328-2206 (after hours)


FAX: [1] (242) 356-0222
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Claude Sylvestre MOREL


chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York, NY 10017


telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785


FAX: [1] (212) 972-1786
chief of mission: Ambassador Joshua SEARS


chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660


FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668


consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
Disputes - international claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory) have not been able to agree on a maritime boundary with the US
Economic aid - recipient $16.4 million (1995) (1995) $9.8 million (1995)
Economy - overview Since independence in 1976, per capita output in this Indian Ocean archipelago has expanded to roughly seven times the old near-subsistence level. Growth has been led by the tourist sector, which employs about 30% of the labor force and provides more than 70% of hard currency earnings, and by tuna fishing. In recent years the government has encouraged foreign investment in order to upgrade hotels and other services. At the same time, the government has moved to reduce the dependence on tourism by promoting the development of farming, fishing, and small-scale manufacturing. The vulnerability of the tourist sector was illustrated by the sharp drop in 1991-92 due largely to the Gulf war and once again following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the US. Other issues facing the government are the curbing of the budget deficit, including the containment of social welfare costs, and further privatization of public enterprises. Growth slowed in 1998-2001, due to sluggish tourist and tuna sectors. Also, tight controls on exchange rates and the scarcity of foreign exchange have impaired short-term economic prospects. The black market value of the Seychelles rupee is half the official exchange rate; without a devaluation of the currency the tourist sector should remain sluggish as vacationers seek cheaper destinations such as Comoros, Mauritius, and Madagascar. The Bahamas is a stable, developing nation with an economy heavily dependent on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism alone accounts for more than 60% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs half of the archipelago's labor force. Steady growth in tourism receipts and a boom in construction of new hotels, resorts, and residences had led to solid GDP growth in recent years, but the slowdown in the US economy and the attacks of 11 September 2001 held back growth in these sectors in 2002. Manufacturing and agriculture together contribute approximately a tenth of GDP and show little growth, despite government incentives aimed at those sectors. Overall growth prospects in the short run rest heavily on the fortunes of the tourism sector, which depends on growth in the US, the source of most of the visitors.
Electricity - consumption 148.8 million kWh (2000) 1.451 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2000) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2000) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 160 million kWh (2000) 1.56 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: Morne Seychellois 905 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island 63 m
Environment - current issues water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater coral reef decay; solid waste disposal
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution


signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab black 85%, white 12%, Asian and Hispanic 3%
Exchange rates Seychelles rupees per US dollar - 5.7458 (January 2002), 5.8575 (2001), 5.7138 (2000), 5.3426 (1999), 5.2622 (1998), 5.0263 (1997) Bahamian dollars per US dollar - 1 (2002), 1 (2001), 1 (2000), 1 (1999), 1 (1998)
Executive branch chief of state: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: President France Albert RENE (since 5 June 1977); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president


elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 31 August-2 September 2001 (next to be held NA 2006)


election results: France Albert RENE reelected president; percent of vote - France Albert RENE (SPPF) 54.19%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (UO) 44.95%, Philippe BOULLE 0.86%; note - the first time that presidential elections have been held separately from legislative elections
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Ivy DUMONT (since NA May 2002)


head of government: Prime Minister Perry CHRISTIE (since 3 May 2002) and Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia PRATT (since 7 May 2002)


cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the prime minister's recommendation


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
Exports $182.6 million f.o.b. (2001) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities canned tuna, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (reexports) fish and crawfish; rum, salt, chemicals; fruit and vegetables
Exports - partners UK 48.1%, Italy 23.1%, France 14.8%, Netherlands 2.7% (1999) US 39.1%, Germany 15.4%, Spain 10.8%, France 7.4%, Poland 4.6%, Switzerland 4.3% (2002)
Fiscal year calendar year 1 July - 30 June
Flag description five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, and green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side
GDP purchasing power parity - $605 million (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $4.59 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 3%


industry: 26%


services: 71% (1999) (1999)
agriculture: 3%


industry: 7%


services: 90% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $7,600 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $15,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 1.5% (2001 est.) 0.1% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 4 35 S, 55 40 E 24 15 N, 76 00 W
Geography - note 40 granitic and about 50 coralline islands strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain of which 30 are inhabited
Heliports - 1 (2002)
Highways total: 280 km


paved: 176 km


unpaved: 104 km (1997)
total: 2,693 km


paved: 1,546 km


unpaved: 1,147 km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs - transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and Europe; offshore financial center
Imports $360.2 million f.o.b. (2001) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, mineral fuels; food and live animals
Imports - partners Italy 13.3%, South Africa 10.7%, France 9.9%, UK 8.0%, Singapore 7.7% (1999) US 20.3%, South Korea 20.1%, Germany 11.5%, Norway 11.5%, Japan 10%, Italy 7.2% (2002)
Independence 29 June 1976 (from UK) 10 July 1973 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate NA% NA%
Industries fishing; tourism; processing of coconuts and vanilla, coir (coconut fiber) rope, boat building, printing, furniture; beverages tourism, banking, e-commerce, cement, oil refining and transshipment, salt, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral-welded steel pipe
Infant mortality rate 16.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) total: 26.21 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 32.45 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 19.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 6.1% (2001 est.) 1.8% (2001 est.)
International organization participation ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer) ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (observer)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 19 (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km NA sq km
Judicial branch Court of Appeal; Supreme Court; judges for both courts are appointed by the president Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; magistrates courts
Labor force 30,900 (1996) (1996) 156,000 (1999)
Labor force - by occupation industry 19%, services 71%, agriculture 10% (1989) (1989) tourism 50%, other services 40%, industry 5%, agriculture 5% (1999 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 2.22%


permanent crops: 13.33%


other: 84.45% (1998 est.)
arable land: 0.6%


permanent crops: 0.4%


other: 99% (1998 est.)
Languages English (official), French (official), Creole English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)
Legal system based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law based on English common law
Legislative branch unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (34 seats - 25 elected by popular vote, 9 allocated on a proportional basis to parties winning at least 10% of the vote; members serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 4-6 December 2002 (next held by 2007)


election results: percent of vote by party - SPPF 54.3%, SNP 42.6%, DP 3.1%; seats by party - SPPF 23, SNP 11


note: the 9 awarded seats are apportioned according to the percentage that each party won of the total vote
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (16-member body appointed by the governor general upon the advice of the prime minister and the opposition leader for five-year terms) and the House of Assembly (40 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)


elections: last held 1 May 2002 (next to be held by May 2007)


election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 50.8%, FNM 41.1%, independents 5.2%; seats by party - PLP 29, FNM 7, independents 4
Life expectancy at birth total population: 70.97 years


male: 65.48 years


female: 76.63 years (2002 est.)
total population: 65.71 years


male: 62.3 years


female: 69.18 years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 58%


male: 56%


female: 60% (1971 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 95.6%


male: 94.7%


female: 96.5% (2003 est.)
Location Eastern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba
Map references Africa Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims contiguous zone: 24 NM


continental shelf: 200 NM or to the edge of the continental margin


exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 7,086 GRT/10,192 DWT


ships by type: cargo 2


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: South Africa 2 (2002 est.)
total: 1,090 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 33,065,778 GRT/46,202,085 DWT


ships by type: bulk 150, cargo 223, chemical tanker 45, combination bulk 12, combination ore/oil 18, container 108, liquefied gas 26, livestock carrier 2, multi-functional large-load carrier 8, passenger 102, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 178, refrigerated cargo 135, roll on/roll off 40, short-sea passenger 17, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 23


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Angola 1, Argentina 1, Australia 4, Belgium 18, Bermuda 1, Canada 5, Chile 1, China 3, Croatia 2, Cuba 3, Cyprus 2, Denmark 27, Ecuador 1, Estonia 2, Finland 9, France 15, Germany 26, Greece 173, Hong Kong 6, India 2, Indonesia 2, Ireland 1, Israel 3, Italy 9, Jamaica 1, Japan 32, Kenya 3, Malaysia 10, Malta 2, Monaco 67, Netherlands 32, New Zealand 2, Norway 237, Panama 2, Philippines 3, Poland 13, Reunion 1, Russia 6, Saudi Arabia 9, Singapore 13, Slovenia 1, South Korea 2, Spain 7, Sweden 12, Switzerland 8, Thailand 1, Trinidad and Tobago 2, Turkey 2, Ukraine 2, United Arab Emirates 10, United Kingdom 107, United States 159, Uruguay 1 (2002 est.)
Military branches Army, Coast Guard (includes Air Wing), Presidential Protection Unit (includes Presidential Guard), Police Force (includes Police Mobile Unit, a special weapons and tactics unit capable of assisting the Army in maintaining internal stability) Royal Bahamas Defense Force (Coast Guard only), Royal Bahamas Police Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure $11 million (FY01) $20 million (FY95/96)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 1.8% (FY01) 0.7% (FY99)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 23,210 (2002 est.) -
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 11,554 (2002 est.) -
National holiday Constitution Day (National Day), 18 June (1993) Independence Day, 10 July (1973)
Nationality noun: Seychellois (singular and plural)


adjective: Seychellois
noun: Bahamian(s)


adjective: Bahamian
Natural hazards lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; short droughts possible hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage
Natural resources fish, copra, cinnamon trees salt, aragonite, timber, arable land
Net migration rate -5.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) -2.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Political parties and leaders Democratic Party or DP [James MANCHAM]; Seychelles National Party or SNP (formerly the United Opposition or UO) [Wavel RAMKALAWAN]; Seychelles People's Progressive Front or SPPF [France Albert RENE] - the governing party Free National Movement or FNM [Tommy TURNQUEST]; Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [Perry CHRISTIE]
Political pressure groups and leaders Roman Catholic Church; trade unions NA
Population 80,098 (July 2002 est.) 297,477


note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 0.47% (2002 est.) 0.77% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Victoria Freeport, Matthew Town, Nassau
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 2 (1998) AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 42,000 (1997) -
Railways 0 km (2003) 0 km
Religions Roman Catholic 86.6%, Anglican 6.8%, other Christian 2.5%, other 4.1% Baptist 32%, Anglican 20%, Roman Catholic 19%, Methodist 6%, Church of God 6%, other Protestant 12%, none or unknown 3%, other 2%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.5 male(s)/female


total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female


total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage 17 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: effective system


domestic: radiotelephone communications between islands in the archipelago


international: direct radiotelephone communications with adjacent island countries and African coastal countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
general assessment: modern facilities


domestic: totally automatic system; highly developed


international: tropospheric scatter and submarine cable to Florida; 3 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (1997)
Telephones - main lines in use 19,635 (1997) 96,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 16,316 (1999) 6,152 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 2 (plus 9 repeaters) (1997) 1 (1997)
Terrain Mahe Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky, hilly; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills
Total fertility rate 1.81 children born/woman (2002 est.) 2.25 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% 6.9% (2001 est.)
Waterways none none
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