# Mahé

> largest island of Seychelles

**Wikidata**: [Q219642](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q219642)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahé)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/mahe

## Summary
Mahé is the largest island of Seychelles, an archipelagic sovereign state located off the eastern coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. It is part of the Seychelles archipelago, which consists of 115 islands, and serves as the political and economic hub of the nation, with Victoria as its capital. Mahé is known for its high Human Development Index, driven by tourism and a services-based economy, and is a strategic island nation in the Indian Ocean.

## Key Facts
- **Classification**: Largest island of Seychelles, part of an archipelagic sovereign state.
- **Location**: Indian Ocean, off the eastern coast of Africa, part of the Seychelles archipelago.
- **Area**: Mahé is one of the islands within Seychelles, which has a total land area of 459 square kilometers.
- **Population**: Seychelles has a population of 119,773 (2023 estimate), with Mahé being the primary island for its population.
- **Currency**: Seychellois rupee (in use since 1914).
- **Official Languages**: English, French, and Seychellois Creole.
- **Government**: Seychelles is a republic with the President as the Head of State and Government (Wavel Ramkalawan, term ending Oct 2025).
- **International Codes**: ISO 3166-1 alpha-2: SC; alpha-3: SYC; numeric: 690. ITU calling code: +248.
- **Internet TLD**: .sc.
- **Timezone**: UTC+04:00 (Indian/Mahe).
- **Motto**: "Finis Coronat Opus" (The End Crowns the Work).
- **Highest Point**: Morne Seychellois.
- **Lowest Point**: Indian Ocean (sea level).
- **Maritime Borders**: Shares maritime borders with France, Comoros, Tanzania, Madagascar, and Mauritius.
- **National Anthem**: "Koste Seselwa."
- **Coat of Arms**: Features a shield supported by two sailfish.
- **Demonym**: Seychellois.

## FAQs
**What is the significance of Mahé in Seychelles?**
Mahé serves as the political and economic hub of Seychelles, hosting the capital city of Victoria and being the largest island in the archipelago. It is a key node in maritime routes and plays a significant role in the nation's governance and economic development.

**What are the official languages of Seychelles?**
The official languages of Seychelles are English, French, and Seychellois Creole. English is widely used, with approximately 3,000 first-language speakers and 30,000 second-language speakers.

**What is the Human Development Index (HDI) of Seychelles?**
Seychelles has a Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.785 (2021), indicating high development relative to the region. It is one of the highest HDI values recorded for African countries.

**What are the maritime borders of Seychelles?**
Seychelles shares maritime borders with France (via the France–Seychelles border), Comoros, Tanzania, Madagascar, and Mauritius.

**What is the national anthem of Seychelles?**
The national anthem of Seychelles is "Koste Seselwa."

## Why It Matters
Mahé matters as the largest and most strategically important island in Seychelles, serving as the political and economic hub of the nation. Despite its small land area, Seychelles has achieved one of the highest Human Development Indexes in Africa, driven by tourism and a services-based economy. Mahé plays a key role in global diplomacy as a voice for small island states and participates in international regulatory frameworks regarding taxation and maritime boundaries. Its location in the Indian Ocean makes it a critical node in maritime routes and a participant in African and Commonwealth geopolitics.

## Notable For
- Being the largest island of Seychelles, an archipelagic sovereign state.
- Hosting the capital city of Victoria and serving as the political and economic hub of Seychelles.
- Possessing a "High" Human Development Index (HDI > 0.800 recorded in 2018-2019).
- Its distinct trilingual policy (English, French, Seychellois Creole).
- Being an archipelagic state with Exclusive Economic Zone borders touching five other nations.
- Inclusion on the European Union tax haven blacklist (as of Feb 2020).

## Body

### Geography and Environment
Mahé is part of the Seychelles archipelago, an island sovereign state situated in the Indian Ocean, geographically classified as part of East Africa and the continent of Africa. The nation consists of an archipelago of islands, including La Digue. Its geographic coordinates are approximately -7.1 latitude and 52.766667 longitude.
- **Extremes**: The highest point is Morne Seychellois, and the lowest point is the Indian Ocean (0 meters).
- **Borders**: As an island nation, Seychelles shares maritime borders with France (via the France–Seychelles border), Comoros, Tanzania, Madagascar, and Mauritius.
- **Climate and Time**: The country observes UTC+04:00 year-round (Indian/Mahe timezone).

### Politics and Governance
Seychelles is a republic with a foundational text known as the Constitution of Seychelles. The government operates with Victoria as its capital.
- **Executive**: The Head of State and Government is the President. Wavel Ramkalawan held the office starting October 26, 2020, with a term scheduled to end October 26, 2025. The legislative body is the National Assembly.
- **Diplomatic Relations**: The nation maintains diplomatic relations with major powers including the United States, Russia, China (People's Republic of China), India, and the United Kingdom. It has historically maintained relations with North Korea since 1976.
- **International Membership**: Seychelles joined the United Nations on September 21, 1976. It is a member of the African Union, Commonwealth of Nations (joined 1976), and the Francophonie. It has been a member of Interpol since 1977 and the World Health Organization.

### Economy and Development
Seychelles uses the Seychellois rupee as its currency, which was introduced in 1914. The central bank is the Central Bank of Seychelles.
- **Economic Indicators**: The nominal GDP was approximately $1.59 billion USD in 2022. The Value Added Tax (VAT) rate is 15%.
- **Development**: The country has a Gini coefficient of 32.1 (2018), indicating moderate income inequality. It was listed on the European Union tax haven blacklist as of February 27, 2020.

### Demographics and Society
The population of Seychelles has grown from 41,700 in 1960 to 119,773 in 2023.
- **Population Statistics**: In 2022, the population was estimated at 100,447, with a male population of 63,113 and a female population of 56,766. The urban population in 2022 was 70,044, while the rural population was 49,874.
- **Vital Statistics**: The birth rate in 2022 was 13.1 per 1,000, and the death rate was 7.8 per 1,000. The total fertility rate was 2.3 in 2014.
- **Languages**: The official languages are English, French, and Seychellois Creole. English usage includes approximately 3,000 first-language speakers and 30,000 second-language speakers.
- **Education**: The number of out-of-school children has decreased significantly, from 4,927 in 2000 to 1,312 in 2015.

### National Symbols and Culture
- **Flag**: The current flag was adopted on June 18, 1996. Previous flags were used during the 1961–1976, 1976–1977, and 1977–1996 periods.
- **Anthem**: The national anthem is "Koste Seselwa."
- **Motto**: The official motto is "Finis Coronat Opus" (Latin), translated as "The End Crowns the Work." A tourism slogan is "Another World."
- **Emblems**: The coat of arms features sailfish and a turtle. The demonym for citizens is Seychellois.

### Infrastructure and Technical Identifiers
- **Transport**: Vehicles drive on the left.
- **Utilities**: The mains voltage is 240V at 50Hz, using the BS 1363 plug type.
- **Emergency Services**: The universal emergency number is 112; specific numbers include 133 for police and 151 for medical services.
- **Identifiers**: The ISO 3166-1 codes are SC (alpha-2), SYC (alpha-3), and 690 (numeric). The telephone country code is +248. The top-level internet domain is .sc.

### Related Entities
- **Seychelles**: An archipelagic sovereign state and republic located off the eastern coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. Comprising 115 islands with its capital at Victoria, it is the smallest country in Africa by area (459 square kilometers) and operates as a multi-party republic with English, French, and Seychellois Creole as its official languages. The nation gained independence on June 29, 1976.
- **Air Seychelles**: The national airline of Seychelles, founded in 1978, with 650 employees.
- **Seychelles Football Federation**: Founded in 1979, it is responsible for organizing football in Seychelles.
- **Karate Combat**: A full-contact karate league founded in 2017.
- **1981 Seychelles coup d'état attempt**: A failed coup attempt by South Africa.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. [Source](https://github.com/JohnMarkOckerbloom/ftl/blob/master/data/wikimap)
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. GeoNames
5. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File