MigrantoImmigrants in Seychelles
12.8K foreigners live in Seychelles — 11% of the country's population
Immigrants in Seychelles by country
The 3 largest groups make up 65% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| India | 6735 |
| Madagascar | 829 |
| Philippines | 730 |
| Sri Lanka | 619 |
| Mauritius | 573 |
| China | 527 |
| Kenya | 422 |
| United Kingdom | 300 |
| South Africa | 262 |
| Thailand | 246 |
| France | 246 |
| Bangladesh | 227 |
| Nepal | 180 |
| Indonesia | 145 |
| Nigeria | 139 |
| Italy | 125 |
| Russia | 99 |
| Germany | 86 |
| Somalia | 64 |
| Australia | 51 |
| Cuba | 43 |
| Maldives | 38 |
| Belgium | 38 |
| Uganda | 27 |
| Pakistan | 23 |
| Spain | 23 |
By region of origin
74% of immigrants come from Asia
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Key facts
Immigrants in Seychelles in numbers
Indians are the largest group by a wide margin
53% of all immigrants were born in India, while the next group accounts for just 6%.
Immigration drives population growth
19% of the population growth of Seychelles since 1990 came from immigrants.
The map of origins has changed since 1990
3 countries have entered the top 20 origins since 1990: Thailand, Bangladesh, Indonesia. Thailand climbed from outside the top 20 to #10.
More immigrants come from a single country than in 1990
The largest group's share rose from 43% to 53%, and today that group is people born in India.
The share of immigrants from Europe has declined since 1990
21.6% of immigrants came from Europe in 1990, compared with 7.2% today.
1 in 9 residents of Seychelles was born abroad
12.8K of 121.4K residents were born abroad — 10.5% of the population.
Immigrant population in Seychelles over time
Foreigners living in Seychelles, by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 2947 |
| 1995 | 4514 |
| 2000 | 6095 |
| 2005 | 8568 |
| 2010 | 11053 |
| 2015 | 12367 |
| 2020 | 12593 |
| 2024 | 12797 |
Largest groups over time
The 5 largest groups in Seychelles, by year
| Year | Indians | Malagasy | Filipinos | Sri Lankans | Mauritians |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1276 | 34 | 61 | 316 | 258 |
| 1995 | 1651 | 279 | 229 | 391 | 383 |
| 2000 | 2026 | 525 | 398 | 467 | 509 |
| 2005 | 3907 | 620 | 514 | 500 | 502 |
| 2010 | 5788 | 716 | 630 | 534 | 495 |
| 2015 | 6482 | 801 | 705 | 598 | 554 |
| 2020 | 6628 | 816 | 718 | 609 | 564 |
| 2024 | 6735 | 829 | 730 | 619 | 573 |
Fastest-changing groups
How each group's numbers have changed since the selected year
Share of each diaspora living in Seychelles
Of each group's emigrants worldwide, the share who live in Seychelles
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners live in Seychelles?
Around 12.8K immigrants live in Seychelles — the world's #193 largest immigrant population.
What percentage of the population of Seychelles are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 11% of the population of Seychelles — that's 12.8K out of a total population of 121.4K.
Where do most immigrants in Seychelles come from?
Most immigrants in Seychelles come from India, Madagascar and Philippines — these three countries account for about 65% of all immigrants.
How many Indians live in Seychelles?
Around 6.7K Indians live in Seychelles — about 53% of all immigrants, the largest group.
Is the immigrant population in Seychelles growing?
Barely — over the past decade, the number of immigrants in Seychelles has changed from 12.4K to 12.8K, about 3%.
Where does the data on immigrants in Seychelles come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born abroad who now live in Seychelles. Their children born in Seychelles are not included.
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Living in Seychelles
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