10 fun facts about Seychelles
1. Seychelles is the smallest country in Africa by both area and population.
2. Seychelles is made up of 115 islands scattered across a huge area of the Indian Ocean, with more than 99% of its territory consisting of water.
3. The islands were uninhabited before Europeans arrived, meaning Seychelles has no indigenous population.
4. Seychelles is home to the coco-de-mer, an unusual palm that produces the largest seed in the plant kingdom.
5. More than 150,000 giant tortoises live on Aldabra Atoll, giving Seychelles the world’s largest population of giant tortoises.
6. British General Charles Gordon visited the Vallée de Mai on Praslin in 1881 and became convinced that it was the original site of the biblical Garden of Eden.
7. Seychelles is home to the enormous coconut crab, the world’s largest land-dwelling arthropod. It can weigh more than 4 kg (9 lb) and is powerful enough to crack open coconuts.
8. Legend says the French pirate Olivier Levasseur hid a vast treasure somewhere in Seychelles during the 18th century. Treasure hunters have spent decades searching for it, but it has never been found.
9. Seychelles was once part of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana, and its long isolation has allowed unusual plants and animals to evolve there.
10. Curried fruit bat is a traditional Seychellois dish and is considered a local delicacy.
Read more: Facts about Seychelles
At a glance
Capital city: Victoria
Population: 133,000 (2025 estimate)
Area: 455 sq km
Major languages: Seychellois Creole, English, French
Major religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant
Time zone: UTC+4 (Seychelles Time)
Where is Seychelles?
Continent: Africa
Region: Eastern Africa
Neighboring countries: None (island country)
Highest point: Morne Seychellois (905 m / 2,969 ft)
Geography of Seychelles
Seychelles is the smallest of the African countries by area and lies in Eastern Africa, in the western Indian Ocean.
The country is made up of 115 islands, including mountainous granitic islands and low-lying coral islands, surrounded by tropical waters and coral reefs.
Mahé & The Highest Point
Mahé is the largest island at 4 miles (6 km) wide and 16 miles (26 km) long. It is the most mountainous island in Seychelles and is home to the capital, Victoria. Its rugged interior rises to Morne Seychellois, the country’s highest point.
The Granitic Islands
Mahé and several of the inner islands are formed largely from granite, featuring steep hills and tropical rainforest.
Outer Coral Islands & Atolls
Farther from the main granitic islands are numerous low-lying coral islands and atolls. These outer islands are generally flatter and much lower than Mahé and the other granitic islands.
Aldabra Atoll
Aldabra lies in the far southwest of Seychelles and is one of the largest raised coral atolls in the world. It consists of four main islands surrounding a huge shallow lagoon. The remote atoll is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has remained largely undisturbed by human activity.
See article: Flag of Seychelles
Seychelles flag
Seychelles has used three national flags since gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1976.
The first was replaced after the 1977 coup, while the current flag was introduced in 1996 following the return to multiparty politics and a national design competition.
Image credits:
Seychelles (centered orthographic projection): TUBS, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird Island (coral cay): Seychelles News Agency, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Caitriona Maria is an education writer and owner of The Facts Institute. With seven years of teaching experience and a background in educational content, she specialises in creating clear reference resources about countries, geography and global topics.