Seychelles Population Reaches 121,400 With Annual Growth Rate of 1.1 Percent
VICTORIA, Seychelles, The latest population figure from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) puts the Seychelles population at 121,400 as of December 31, 2023, indicating a growth rate of 1.1 percent over 2022. The new figure encompasses both Seychellois and non-Seychellois residents. The bulletin was released as part of the bureau regular series of demographic updates and provides an updated baseline for planning purposes.
The Seychellois-only population is estimated at 103,900 as of December 31, 2023. This represents an increase of 758 persons, or an annual growth rate of 0.7 percent over 2022. The slower growth among the Seychellois population reflects the combined effect of births, deaths and migration recorded during the reference period.
In 2023, there were 1,846 births registered, compared to 1,964 births in 2022. The crude birth rate, which measures the number of births per thousand mid-year population, was 16.3 in 2023, compared to 17.4 in 2022. Of the 1,846 births, 598 (32 percent) occurred within marriage, 1,141 (62 percent) were acknowledged, and 107 (6 percent) were natural.
The percentage of legitimate births decreased from 35 percent in 2022 to 32 percent in 2023, while the share of acknowledged births rose from 59 percent to 62 percent. Natural births remained a small share at 6 percent, broadly in line with previous years. The NBS noted that the data will be used to update population projections and to inform planning across key sectors including health, education and social services.
The full bulletin, which includes additional details on deaths, marriages and migration, is available on the NBS website. The bureau is expected to release updated population estimates later in the year once emigration and immigration data for the first half of 2024 have been processed. The next census of population and housing is scheduled for 2025, which will provide a comprehensive update to the current population estimates.
