Seychelles

Seychelles is a small, 283-square-mile island nation in the Indian Ocean, which became independent of Great Britain in 1976. The population of 87,476 (as of July 2009) includes French, African, Indian Chinese, and Arab citizens, reflecting the Seychelles’ location between African and Asia and its lack of an indigenous population. The island nation has served as a transit point for trade from at least the 16th century. Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion, accounting for 82.3 percent of the population, with Anglicans the next largest religion represented, at 6.4 percent. Seychelles enjoys a high standard of living, with a per capita gross domestic product of $19,400 in 2009 (61st highest in the world and among the [Page 1340]highest in Africa). Life expectancies are 68.33 ...