Seychelles, officially the Republic of Seychelles, is an island country and archipelagic state consisting of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean. Its capital and largest city, Victoria, is 1,500 kilometres east of mainland Africa. Nearby island countries and territories include the Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, and the French overseas departments of Mayotte and Réunion to the south; and Maldives and the Chagos Archipelago to the east. Seychelles is the smallest country in Africa as well as the least populated sovereign African country, with an estimated population of 100,600 in 2022.
The first Europeans to discover the Seychelles were the 4th Portuguese India Armada, led by Vasco da Gama.
Victoria, Seychelles 1900s
Victoria, the capital of Seychelles
President James Michel in his office in Victoria, 2009
An island country, island state, or island nation is a country whose primary territory consists of one or more islands or parts of islands. Approximately 25% of all independent countries are island countries. Island countries are historically more stable than many continental states but are vulnerable to conquest by naval superpowers. Indonesia is the largest and most populated island country in the world.
A sign on South Tarawa, Kiribati discussing the threat of sea level rise to the island, with its highest point being only three metres above sea level.
Japan is an archipelago in Asia that constitutes one of the richest and most populated nations on Earth.
Singapore, an affluent and highly-developed sovereign island country by which its territories consists of a main island and other smaller islands