Official Name: Repiblik Sesel (Creole); Republic of Seychelles (English); République des Seychelles (French)

Area: Africa

Size: 455 km²

Coastline: 491 km

Independence: from the UK 29 June 1976 

Form of Govt.: Multiparty republic

Head of Govt.: President

Capital: Victoria

Largest City: Victoria

Demographics (2005): 80,654.    178 /km²

French, African, Desi, Chinese, and Arab

GDP per Capita (2005): $11,818

Languages: Creole 91.8%, English 4.9% (official), other 3.1%, unspecified 0.2%

Geography: Mahé Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky, hilly; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs. Two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the island of Aldabra (giant tortoises), which is the world's largest raised coral atoll and also the Vallée de Mai on Praslin island, billed as the original site of the Garden of Eden. Seychelles is home to some of the most picturesques beaches in the world

Climate: tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May). The Seychelles are fortunate to lie outside the tropical cyclone belt