Part 179

Chapter 1793,678 wordsPublic domain

election results: percent of vote by party - SPPF 56.2%, SNP 43.8%; seats by party - SPPF 23, SNP 11

Judicial branch:

Court of Appeal; Supreme Court; judges for both courts are appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Party or DP [James MANCHAM, Paul CHOW]; People's Party (Parti Lepep) or PL [France Albert RENE, James MICHEL] (the governing party); Seychelles National Party or SNP [Wavel RAMKALAWAN] (formerly the United Opposition or UO)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Roman Catholic Church

other: trade unions

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jean Ronald JUMEAU

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

telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785

FAX: [1] (212) 972-1786

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Seychelles; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Seychelles

Flag description:

five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, and green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side; the oblique bands are meant to symbolize a dynamic new country moving into the future; blue represents sky and sea, yellow the sun giving light and life, red the peoples' determination to work for the future in unity and love, white social justice and harmony, green the land and natural environment

National anthem:

lyrics/music: David Francois Marc ANDRE and George Charles Robert PAYET

note: adopted 1996

Economy ::Seychelles

Economy - overview:

Since independence in 1976, per capita output in this Indian Ocean archipelago has expanded to roughly seven times the pre-independence, near-subsistence level, moving the island into the upper-middle income group of countries. 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 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. GDP grew about 7-8% per year in 2006-07, driven by tourism and a boom in tourism-related construction. The Seychelles rupee was allowed to depreciate in 2006 after being overvalued for years and fell by 10% in the first 9 months of 2007. Despite these actions, the Seychelles economy has struggled to maintain its gains and in 2008 suffered from food and oil price shocks, a foreign exchange shortage, high inflation, large financing gaps, and the global recession. In July 2008 the government defaulted on a Euro amortizing note worth roughly US$80 million, leading to a downgrading of Seychelles credit rating, but in October 2010 the EU approved a $2.9 million grant as part of a larger four-year program for Seychelles. In response to Seychelles successful implementation of tighter monetary and fiscal policies, the IMF upgraded Seychelles to a three-year exteneded fund facility (EFF) of $31 million in December 2009. In 2008, GDP fell more than 1% due to declining tourism, but the economy recovered in 2009-10 with a notable increase in tourist numbers for 2010.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.908 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 185 $1.843 billion (2009 est.)

$1.83 billion (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$919 million (2010 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 100 0.7% (2009 est.)

-1.3% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$21,600 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 61 $21,100 (2009 est.)

$21,100 (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.9%

industry: 30.8%

services: 66.2% (2009 est.)

Labor force:

39,560 (2006) country comparison to the world: 197

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 3%

industry: 23%

services: 74% (2006)

Unemployment rate:

2% (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 13

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Investment (gross fixed):

36.2% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 6

Public debt:

58.8% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 37 58.7% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

-2.2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 2 31.8% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

NA% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 84 5.13% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

15.35% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 77 11.81% (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of narrow money:

$274.2 million (31 December 2010 est) country comparison to the world: 168 $240.5 million (31 December 2009 est)

Stock of broad money:

$415 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 175 $352 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit:

$678.5 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 159 $582.5 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA

Agriculture - products:

coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), copra, bananas; poultry; tuna

Industries:

fishing, tourism, processing of coconuts and vanilla, coir (coconut fiber) rope, boat building, printing, furniture; beverages

Industrial production growth rate:

2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Electricity - production:

250 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Electricity - consumption:

232.5 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 173

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Oil - consumption:

7,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 158

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 175

Oil - imports:

7,653 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 145

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 124

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 127

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 133

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 136

Current account balance:

-$351 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 104 -$284.2 million (2009 est.)

Exports:

$464 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 168 $432.5 million (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities:

canned tuna, frozen fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (reexports)

Exports - partners:

UK 24.84%, France 18.53%, Italy 9.45%, Mauritius 9.03%, Japan 6.98%, Spain 4.92% (2009)

Imports:

$831 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 176 $759.1 million (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals, other manufactured goods

Imports - partners:

Saudi Arabia 16.44%, India 8.33%, Spain 7.49%, South Africa 6.72%, France 6.39%, Brazil 6.07%, Singapore 5.07% (2009)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$193 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 128 $190.6 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.374 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 145 $1.321 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates:

Seychelles rupees (SCR) per US dollar - 12.221 (2010), 13.6124 (2009), 8 (2008), 6.5 (2007), 5.5 (2006)

Communications ::Seychelles

Telephones - main lines in use:

22,100 (2009) country comparison to the world: 188

Telephones - mobile cellular:

92,300 (2009) country comparison to the world: 186

Telephone system:

general assessment: effective system

domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is 130 telephones per 100 persons; radiotelephone communications between islands in the archipelago

international: country code - 248; direct radiotelephone communications with adjacent island countries and African coastal countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Broadcast media:

the government operates the only terrestrial TV station, which provides local programming and airs broadcasts from international services; multi-channel cable and satellite TV are available via subscription; the government operates 1 AM and 1 FM radio station; transmissions of 2 international broadcasters are accessible in Victoria (2007)

Internet country code:

.sc

Internet hosts:

256 (2010) country comparison to the world: 187

Internet users:

32,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 179

Transportation ::Seychelles

Airports:

14 (2010) country comparison to the world: 150

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 8

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 6

under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 6

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 5 (2010)

Roadways:

total: 458 km country comparison to the world: 195 paved: 440 km

unpaved: 18 km (2003)

Merchant marine:

total: 9 country comparison to the world: 120 by type: cargo 1, carrier 1, chemical tanker 6, petroleum tanker 1

foreign-owned: 3 (Hong Kong 1, Nigeria 1, South Africa 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals:

Victoria

Military ::Seychelles

Military branches:

Seychelles Defense Force: Army, Coast Guard (includes Naval Wing, Air Wing), National Guard (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service (younger with parental consent); no conscription (2010)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 26,040

females age 16-49: 23,961 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 19,989

females age 16-49: 19,882 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 704

female: 672 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures:

2% of GDP (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 72

Transnational Issues ::Seychelles

Disputes - international:

together with Mauritius, Seychelles claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory)

page last updated on January 19, 2011

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@Sierra Leone (Africa)

Introduction ::Sierra Leone

Background:

Democracy is slowly being reestablished after the civil war from 1991 to 2002 that resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people (about one-third of the population). The military, which took over full responsibility for security following the departure of UN peacekeepers at the end of 2005, is increasingly developing as a guarantor of the country's stability. The armed forces remained on the sideline during the 2007 presidential election, but still look to the UN Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) - a civilian UN mission - to support efforts to consolidate peace. The new government's priorities include furthering development, creating jobs, and stamping out endemic corruption.

Geography ::Sierra Leone

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia

Geographic coordinates:

8 30 N, 11 30 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 71,740 sq km country comparison to the world: 118 land: 71,620 sq km

water: 120 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries:

total: 958 km

border countries: Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km

Coastline:

402 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)

Terrain:

coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m

Natural resources:

diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite

Land use:

arable land: 7.95%

permanent crops: 1.05%

other: 91% (2005)

Irrigated land:

300 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

160 cu km (1987)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.38 cu km/yr (5%/3%/92%)

per capita: 69 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms

Environment - current issues:

rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; civil war depleted natural resources; overfishing

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Geography - note:

rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 inches) a year, making it one of the wettest places along coastal, western Africa

People ::Sierra Leone

Population:

5,245,695 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Age structure:

0-14 years: 41.7% (male 1,060,463/female 1,081,333)

15-64 years: 54.7% (male 1,344,650/female 1,461,203)

65 years and over: 3.6% (male 83,595/female 100,894) (2010 est.)

Median age:

total: 19 years

male: 18.6 years

female: 19.5 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.216% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 38

Birth rate:

38.79 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 15

Death rate:

11.97 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 31

Net migration rate:

-4.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 198 note: refugees currently in surrounding countries are slowly returning (2010 est.)

Urbanization:

urban population: 38% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 2.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 0.98 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female

total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 80.16 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 13 male: 89.06 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 70.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 55.69 years country comparison to the world: 197 male: 53.27 years

female: 58.18 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.97 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 24

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.7% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

55,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

3,300 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 54

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever

water contact disease: schistosomiasis

aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever (2009)

Nationality:

noun: Sierra Leonean(s)

adjective: Sierra Leonean

Ethnic groups:

Temne 35%, Mende 31%, Limba 8%, Kono 5%, Kriole 2% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century; also known as Krio), Mandingo 2%, Loko 2%, other 15% (includes refugees from Liberia's recent civil war, and small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians) (2008 census)

Religions:

Muslim 60%, Christian 10%, indigenous beliefs 30%

Languages:

English (official, regular use limited to literate minority), Mende (principal vernacular in the south), Temne (principal vernacular in the north), Krio (English-based Creole, spoken by the descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area, a lingua franca and a first language for 10% of the population but understood by 95%)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic

total population: 35.1%

male: 46.9%

female: 24.4% (2004 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 7 years

male: 9 years

female: 6 years (2001)

Education expenditures:

3.8% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 114

Government ::Sierra Leone

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leone

conventional short form: Sierra Leone

local long form: Republic of Sierra Leone

local short form: Sierra Leone

Government type:

constitutional democracy

Capital:

geographic coordinates: 8 30 N, 13 15 W

time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, Southern, Western*

Independence:

27 April 1961 (from the UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 27 April (1961)

Constitution:

1 October 1991; amended several times

Legal system:

based on English law and customary laws indigenous to local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Ernest Bai KOROMA (since 17 September 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Ernest Bai KOROMA (since 17 September 2007)

cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president with the approval of the House of Representatives; the cabinet is responsible to the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 11 August 2007 and 8 September 2007 (next to be held in 2012)

election results: second round results; percent of vote - Ernest Bai KOROMA 54.6%, Solomon BEREWA 45.4%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament (124 seats; 112 members elected by popular vote, 12 filled by paramount chiefs elected in separate elections; members to serve five-year terms)

elections: last held on 11 August 2007 (next to be held in 2012)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APC 59, SLPP 43, PMDC 10

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Appeals Court; High Court

Political parties and leaders:

All People's Congress or APC [Ernest Bai KOROMA]; Peace and Liberation Party or PLP [Darlington MORRISON]; People's Movement for Democratic Change or PMDC [Charles MARGAI]; Sierra Leone People's Party or SLPP [Solomon BEREWA]; numerous others

Political pressure groups and leaders:

other: student unions; trade unions

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Bockari Kortu STEVENS

chancery: 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

telephone: [1] (202) 939-9261 through 9263

FAX: [1] (202) 483-1793

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Glenn FEDZER

embassy: Southridge-Hill Station, Freetown

mailing address: use embassy street address

telephone: [232] (22) 515 000 or (76) 515 000

FAX: [232] (22) 515 355

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and blue; green symbolizes agriculture, mountains, and natural resources, white represents unity and justice, and blue the sea and the natural harbor in Freetown

National anthem:

lyrics/music: Clifford Nelson FYLE/John Joseph AKA

note: adopted 1961

Economy ::Sierra Leone

Economy - overview:

Sierra Leone is an extremely poor nation with tremendous inequality in income distribution. While it possesses substantial mineral, agricultural, and fishery resources, its physical and social infrastructure has yet to recover from the civil war, and serious social disorders continue to hamper economic development. Nearly half of the working-age population engages in subsistence agriculture. Manufacturing consists mainly of the processing of raw materials and of light manufacturing for the domestic market. Alluvial diamond mining remains the major source of hard currency earnings accounting for nearly half of Sierra Leone's exports. The fate of the economy depends upon the maintenance of domestic peace and the continued receipt of substantial aid from abroad, which is essential to offset the severe trade imbalance and supplement government revenues. The IMF has completed a Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility program that helped stabilize economic growth and reduce inflation and in 2010 approved a new program worth $45 million over three years. Political stability has led to a revival of economic activity such as the rehabilitation of bauxite and rutile mining, which are set to benefit from planned tax incentives. A number of offshore oil discoveries were announced in 2009 and 2010. The development on these reserves, which could be significant, is still several years away.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$4.812 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 161 $4.574 billion (2009 est.)

$4.382 billion (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.901 billion (2010 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 54 4.4% (2009 est.)

5.5% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$900 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 221 $900 (2009 est.)

$900 (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 49%

industry: 31%

services: 21% (2005 est.)

Labor force:

2.207 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 115

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: NA%

industry: NA%

services: NA%

Unemployment rate:

NA%

Population below poverty line:

70.2% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.6%

highest 10%: 33.6% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

62.9 (1989) country comparison to the world: 5

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

11.7% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 205

Central bank discount rate:

NA%

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

NA% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 9 24.5% (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of narrow money:

$209.4 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 173 $219.1 million (31 December 2008)

Stock of broad money:

$437 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 174 $434.3 million (31 December 2008)

Stock of domestic credit:

$178.4 million (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 175 $140.9 million (31 December 2008)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA

Agriculture - products:

rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish

Industries: