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Seychelles economy ranking: GDP & GDP per capita, debt

Updated on by Georank team

The Seychelles ranked 178/197 by economy size with a GDP of $2.17B and 63/197 by GDP per capita at $17,859. The Seychelles has $1.25B in government debt, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 57.6%.

In 2024, the Seychelles made up 0.002% of the world's economy, compared to 0.0009% in 1960.

Seychelles GDP & GDP growth by year

GDP, current $
Real growth
1x
Year GDP GDP growth
2024 $2,167,239,562 3.47%
2023 $2,187,379,755 2.26%
2022 $2,018,346,589 12.7%
2021 $1,487,173,795 0.55%
2020 $1,382,551,752 -11.7%
2019 $1,868,690,097 5.51%
2018 $1,784,313,927 4.94%
2017 $1,675,370,641 6.95%
2016 $1,568,513,348 12.1%
2015 $1,432,403,352 8.91%
2014 $1,387,577,870 4.06%
2013 $1,333,160,407 1.25%
2012 $1,089,407,839 3.11%
2011 $1,058,918,707 9.51%
2010 $981,616,542 4.51%
2009 $850,901,620 -2.48%
2008 $979,597,394 -2.73%
2007 $1,077,308,814 8.88%
2006 $1,081,441,283 9.41%
2005 $977,899,382 9.01%
2004 $893,012,218 -2.85%
2003 $750,847,230 -5.89%
2002 $742,134,838 1.21%
2001 $662,064,156 -2.27%
2000 $654,212,394 4.25%
1999 $662,838,615 1.87%
1998 $647,287,376 2.47%
1997 $598,966,982 12.2%
1996 $535,250,347 10%
1995 $540,733,048 0.49%
1994 $517,570,058 -2.44%
1993 $504,230,621 7.3%
1992 $461,409,399 7.17%
1991 $398,307,170 2.76%
1990 $392,163,561 7.45%
1989 $324,333,367 10.3%
1988 $301,985,618 5.33%
1987 $265,212,957 4.87%
1986 $221,147,061 0.76%
1985 $179,691,483 10.3%
1984 $160,992,921 4.31%
1983 $156,098,237 -0.62%
1982 $157,211,790 -2.07%
1981 $163,750,728 -3.88%
1980 $156,783,830 -5.1%
1979 $127,261,099 15.8%
1978 $85,552,366 21.2%
1977 $64,526,401 -6.19%
1976 $49,278,982 16.3%
1975 $47,803,146 3.18%
1974 $43,134,496 1.3%
1973 $36,896,280 9.05%
1972 $30,645,123 6.31%
1971 $21,965,951 15.9%
1970 $18,432,032 8.87%
1969 $16,452,028 0%
1968 $16,074,028 7.55%
1967 $16,632,032 0.5%
1966 $16,443,034 13.9%
1965 $15,603,032 -1.06%
1964 $15,393,032 5.92%
1963 $13,923,029 10.1%
1962 $12,642,026 8.41%
1961 $11,592,024 -4.88%
1960 $12,012,025 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/seychelles | CC BY

Seychelles GDP per capita by year

GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $17,859 $33,239
2023 $18,263 $31,781
2022 $16,837 $29,973
2021 $14,983 $29,980
2020 $14,041 $31,056
2019 $19,142 $34,219
2018 $18,440 $32,091
2017 $17,480 $30,675
2016 $16,567 $28,811
2015 $15,333 $25,435
2014 $15,188 $24,985
2013 $14,821 $22,487
2012 $12,337 $22,264
2011 $12,110 $21,781
2010 $10,935 $18,982
2009 $9,747 $18,453
2008 $11,265 $18,881
2007 $12,669 $19,473
2006 $12,783 $17,503
2005 $11,802 $15,846
2004 $10,828 $14,160
2003 $9,070 $14,142
2002 $8,864 $14,570
2001 $8,153 $14,615
2000 $8,064 $14,638
1999 $8,243 $13,853
1998 $8,210 $13,675
1997 $7,747 $13,458
1996 $7,004 $11,931
1995 $7,181 $10,809
1994 $6,975 $10,692
1993 $6,979 $11,020
1992 $6,520 $10,243
1991 $5,655 $9,387
1990 $5,642 $8,955
1989 $4,689 -
1988 $4,392 -
1987 $3,872 -
1986 $3,368 -
1985 $2,754 -
1984 $2,488 -
1983 $2,426 -
1982 $2,441 -
1981 $2,557 -
1980 $2,478 -
1979 $2,030 -
1978 $1,377 -
1977 $1,044 -
1976 $814 -
1975 $806 -
1974 $745 -
1973 $649 -
1972 $547 -
1971 $402 -
1970 $344 -
1969 $314 -
1968 $314 -
1967 $333 -
1966 $338 -
1965 $328 -
1964 $332 -
1963 $308 -
1962 $287 -
1961 $270.3 -
1960 $288.1 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/seychelles | CC BY

The Seychelles has a GDP per capita of $17,859, ranking 63/197, a GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP) of $33,239, ranking 67/197, and a median annual after tax income of $10,944, ranking 71/197.

Seychelles GDP rankings by year

GDP
GDP per capita
GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Rank
GDP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 169 59 61
2023 172 60 62
2022 174 60 61
2021 178 60 56
2020 179 59 49
2019 174 51 45
2018 174 52 46
2017 174 52 45
2016 175 53 45
2015 177 54 53
2014 177 55 53
2013 178 57 56
2012 180 65 57
2011 181 63 54
2010 179 63 59
2009 181 62 60
2008 178 60 60
2007 176 55 56
2006 174 51 57
2005 171 48 56
2004 173 48 58
2003 171 48 53
2002 170 47 50
2001 173 48 51
2000 171 47 49
1999 168 45 47
1998 168 46 47
1997 169 48 46
1996 167 47 46
1995 167 46 46
1994 164 46 46
1993 160 44 45
1992 160 47 46
1991 162 47 47
1990 160 49 50
1989 147 47 -
1988 147 46 -
1987 145 46 -
1986 140 50 -
1985 141 52 -
1984 140 56 -
1983 140 54 -
1982 139 55 -
1981 138 55 -
1980 138 51 -
1979 130 52 -
1978 135 65 -
1977 135 69 -
1976 134 71 -
1975 134 68 -
1974 133 70 -
1973 132 65 -
1972 132 60 -
1971 132 71 -
1970 134 78 -
1969 120 68 -
1968 119 60 -
1967 119 55 -
1966 115 52 -
1965 114 51 -
1964 111 49 -
1963 111 50 -
1962 112 51 -
1961 111 54 -
1960 109 44 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/seychelles | CC BY

Compared with 2000, in 2024 the Seychelles is ranked 169th out of 182 by GDP (up from 171st), 59th by GDP per capita (down from 47th), and 61st by GDP per capita PPP (down from 49th).

Economic indicators

Seychelles Rank
Gross domestic product
$2.17B
2024
178/197
GDP growth
3.47%
2023-2024
91/194
GDP per capita
$17,859
2024
63/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$33,239
2024
67/197
Government debt
$1.25B
2024
169/185
Debt-to-GDP ratio
57.6%
2024
85/185
Government debt per person
$10,288
2024
57/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$10,944
2026
71/197
Listed domestic companies
23
2024
88/103
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$811M
2024
93/100
Income share by richest 10%
23.9%
2018
140/169
Income share by poorest 10%
2.6%
2018
104/169
Government expenditure, % of GDP
33.8%
2024
74/195
Consumer prices inflation
0.31%
2023-2024
184/195
Central bank interest rate
1.75%
2024
98/106
Unemployment rate
2.59%
2024
166/196
Population
126311
181/197

Government spending, deficit, and debt by year

Spending
Debt
Deficit/surplus
1x
Year % of GDP
Government spending Government debt Government deficit/surplus
2024 33.8% 57.6% -0.69%
2023 32.9% 55.3% -1.14%
2022 31.3% 60% -0.76%
2021 38.8% 71% -5.76%
2020 46.7% 77.4% -15.7%
2019 31.7% 48.9% 0.42%
2018 33% 51.3% -0.8%
2017 34.3% 56.7% -1.67%
2016 34.5% 62.8% 0.02%
2015 31.5% 64.7% 1.39%
2014 33.4% 70.4% 2.87%
2013 37.8% 68.2% 0.33%
2012 38.6% 80.1% 2.93%
2011 36.4% 82.5% 3.36%
2010 34.6% 82.2% 0.52%
2009 32.1% 106.1% 4.84%
2008 27% 192.1% 7.88%
2007 41.9% 144% -9.93%
2006 43.6% 135.1% -2.54%
2005 39% 144.1% 0.42%
2004 39.9% 163.2% 0.44%
2003 44.6% 177% 3.4%
2002 56.3% 195.9% -16.3%
2001 46.8% 199.8% -8.93%
2000 55.4% 177.8% -14.7%
1999 56.1% 159.8% -10.3%
1998 60.7% 161.2% -16.7%
1997 54.7% 143% -5.91%
1996 59.1% 146.7% -9.69%
1995 53.1% 133.5% -2.58%
1994 63.6% 123.5% -6.95%
1993 60.4% 82.2% -3.62%
1992 50.7% 79.9% 6.44%
1991 52.1% 89.2% 3.15%
1990 46.1% 80.4% 11.9%
1989 51.7% 39.9% 8.26%
1988 46.7% 41.3% 11.8%
1987 49.7% 37% 2.77%
1986 58% 31.5% -10.1%
1985 53% 26.5% -4.86%
1984 50.5% 15.3% -6.09%
1983 47.9% 12.4% -3.13%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1983–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/seychelles | CC BY

This chart shows the Seychelles' government spending, budget balance, and debt over time, each expressed as a share of GDP.

Over the past 42 years, the Seychelles recorded a fiscal deficit in 23 of them, with an average annual deficit equal to 2.04% of GDP. In 2024, government spending reached $732M (33.8% of GDP), with a deficit of 0.69%.

The national debt reached $1.25B, ranking 169th out of 185 countries by total size, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of 57.6%, ranking 85th.

Inflation rate by year

1x
Year Inflation
2024 0.31%
2023 -1.04%
2022 2.63%
2021 9.77%
2020 1.2%
2019 1.81%
2018 3.7%
2017 2.86%
2016 -1.02%
2015 4.04%
2014 1.39%
2013 4.34%
2012 7.11%
2011 2.56%
2010 -2.4%
2009 31.8%
2008 37%
2007 5.32%
2006 -0.35%
2005 0.91%
2004 3.86%
2003 3.3%
2002 0.18%
2001 5.97%
2000 6.27%
1999 6.35%
1998 2.58%
1997 0.62%
1996 -1.1%
1995 -0.24%
1994 1.74%
1993 1.38%
1992 3.25%
1991 1.99%
1990 3.89%
1989 1.58%
1988 1.84%
1987 2.59%
1986 0.24%
1985 0.83%
1984 4.09%
1983 6.05%
1982 -0.91%
1981 10.6%
1980 13.6%
1979 12.5%
1978 11.8%
1977 15%
1976 14.9%
1975 18.6%
1974 24.4%
1973 18.2%
1972 20.9%
1971 14.6%

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1971–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/seychelles | CC BY

Over the past 20 years, the Seychelles has had an average annual inflation rate of 5.59%. In 2024, inflation was 0.31%. The bar chart above shows consumer price inflation by year.

Balance of trade

Seychelles Rank
Current account balance
-$176M
2024
97/190
Current account balance, % of GDP
-8.11%
2024
154/190
Goods imports
$1.39B
2024
161/189
Goods exports
$595M
2024
157/189
Service imports
$1B
2024
146/189
Service exports
$1.71B
2024
112/189
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
103.2%
2024
7/181
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
85.2%
2024
12/193

Seychelles top 10 trading partners

The Seychelles' biggest trading partner accounting for 38.7% of all exports and imports is the United Arab Emirates, with a trade balance between the two of -$253M: the Seychelles exports $278M worth of goods and services to the United Arab Emirates and imports $531M.

Below is the list of the top 10 trade partners of the Seychelles.

Rank Country Trade value Share of total trade Export to Import from Top export to Top import from
1 UAE $809M 38.7% $278M $531M Raw materials & minerals Raw materials & minerals
2 France $213M 10.2% $97.4M $116M Processed food, beverages & tobacco Animal & marine products
3 United Kingdom $127M 6.05% $79.3M $47.2M Processed food, beverages & tobacco Machinery & equipment
4 Spain $104M 4.97% $1.75M $102M Animal & marine products Animal & marine products
5 India $97.5M 4.67% $2.69M $94.8M Metals Machinery & equipment
6 South Africa $92.4M 4.42% $188K $92.2M Machinery & equipment Machinery & equipment
7 China $74.5M 3.56% $34K $74.4M Machinery & equipment Machinery & equipment
8 Italy $73.4M 3.51% $49.2M $24.2M Processed food, beverages & tobacco Machinery & equipment
9 Thailand $42.7M 2.04% $2.92M $39.7M Processed food, beverages & tobacco Metals
10 Mauritius $40.1M 1.92% $2.24M $37.9M Animal & marine products Machinery & equipment

Top 10 exports

Seychelles Rank
Transport & tourism services $1.1B 114/188
Business & finance services $540M 90/188
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $288M 112/192
Raw materials & minerals $218M 140/193
Metals $51.6M 131/192
Animal & marine products $25.7M 134/192
Government & miscellaneous services $16.1M 129/180
IT & IP services $11.5M 152/183
Machinery & equipment $8.48M 168/193
Raw agricultural goods $1.02M 178/193

Top 10 imports

Seychelles Rank
Business & finance services $658M 102/188
Machinery & equipment $343M 163/193
Raw materials & minerals $338M 158/193
Transport & tourism services $333M 152/188
Animal & marine products $193M 116/193
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $135M 167/193
Chemicals & pharma $129M 164/193
Textiles & consumer goods $112M 159/193
Metals $107M 155/193
Wood & paper products $71.6M 147/193

Economic freedom indices

Seychelles Rank
Economic freedom 66.5 60/197
Property rights 82.6 36/182
Government integrity 71.7 26/182
Judicial effectiveness 61.7 60/182
Tax burden 77.3 103/182
Government spending 68 106/180
Fiscal health 92.2 45/181
Business freedom 71.3 61/182
Labor freedom 52 128/182
Monetary freedom 79.8 21/180
Trade freedom 81.2 21/181
Investment freedom 30 155/181
Financial freedom 30 148/181

Economic freedom by year

1x
Year Index
Economic freedom Judicial effectiveness Tax burden Government spending Fiscal health
2026 66.5 61.7 77.3 68 92.2
2025 66.4 63.7 79.7 64.6 83.2
2024 60.4 65.2 79.1 54.6 12.4
2023 59.5 71.5 75.1 47.8 9.4
2022 61.1 62.4 76.4 42.5 36.7
2021 66.3 51.6 76.9 60.9 93.2
2020 64.3 46.4 76.8 58.9 93.2
2019 61.4 37.5 76.3 60.3 92
2018 61.6 38.8 73.4 63 90.6
2017 61.8 42.6 78.8 63.9 90.7
2016 62.2 - 79.3 62 -
2015 57.5 - 79.8 59.4 -
2014 56.2 - 76.8 61.8 -
2013 54.9 - 77.6 56.9 -
2012 53 - 76 59.6 -
2011 51.2 - 77.7 52.5 -
2010 47.9 - 76.4 9.3 -
2009 47.8 - 73.8 0 -

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2009–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/seychelles | CC BY

The Seychelles is ranked 54/174 for economic freedom with a score of 66.5, compared to 155/177 and a score of 47.8 in 2009.

Other economic metrics

Seychelles Rank
Services, % of GDP
65.8%
2024
42/191
Industry, % of GDP
12.3%
2024
172/194
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
2.45%
2024
144/193
GNI, Atlas method
$2.12B
2024
176/194
GNI per capita, PPP
$32,180
2024
65/191
Total reserves including gold
$774M
2024
145/177
Net foreign direct investment
-$262M
2024
89/189
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$226M
2024
133/193
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
-$35.4M
2024
177/193
Poverty at national poverty lines
25.3%
2018
72/176
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
17.2%
2024
144/178

Compare Seychelles vs other countries

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/seychelles | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2009–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1983–1989, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. TradeMap (2022–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.