Part of the country series of articles.
TRAVEL ADVISORY: EXERCISE CAUTIONThe Commonwealth advises travellers to exercise caution in this country. Some areas or circumstances may carry elevated risk. Travellers should monitor local conditions and follow the guidance of local authorities.
| Republic of Seychelles | |
|---|---|
| One-party socialist state | |
 |
|
| Capital | Victoria |
| Languages | French, English, and Seychellois Creole |
| Population | 120,000 |
The Republic of Seychelles is a one-party socialist state in the western Indian Ocean, comprising about 115 islands lying east of Madagascar and Kenya. The islands divide into two main groups: the granitic inner islands, mountainous and forested, and the low-lying coralline outer islands to the southwest. The population is predominantly of mixed African, French and Asian descent, reflecting the islands’ history as an uninhabited territory settled by French colonists and African slaves from the eighteenth century, with subsequent immigration from India, China and the Malay world.
The Seychelles People’s United Party has governed since independence and maintains a non-aligned foreign policy. The country has close political and economic relations with Vekllei, as well as other Indian Ocean states including the Maldives and East India, and is a member of COMOC. Tourism, service industries and light manufacturing – including beverages and food processing – form the basis of the economy. The government provides publicly funded healthcare and education, and the standard of living is high by regional standards.
Victoria, on the island of Mahé, is the capital and principal port. The inner islands support the majority of the population and most economic activity; the outer islands are largely uninhabited or lightly settled, with some designated as nature reserves.