Full Country Name: Republic of Seychelles
Population: 80,469 (July 2003 est.)
Capital: Victoria
Location: Eastern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar.

The capital and only urban center and port is Victoria, located on the largest island, Mahé (c.55 sq mi/140 sq km), where about 90% of the population lives.

Mahé and the other principal islands (Praslin, La Digue, Silhouette, and Curieuse) are granitic; there are also around 50 coralline islands. The population is mainly of mixed Asian, African, and European descent; most of the inhabitants are Roman Catholic and speak a creole language, although English and French are the official languages. Fish, cinnamon, copra, and vanilla are exported. Tourism has expanded rapidly since the 1970s, and in the 1990s it became the nation's most important industry. Fishing (especially tuna) is the second leading economic activity, and there is some light manufacturing. The country is a member of the Southern African Development Community. The government is headed by a president, who is elected for a five-year term and is aided by a council of ministers. There is a 35-member legislative assembly. The country is divided into 23 administrative districts.