115 islands make up the archipelagic state of Seychelles, which is officially known as the Republic of Seychelles. It is in the Indian Ocean. Victoria, the nation's largest and capital, is 800 nautical miles (1,000 km) east of mainland Africa. The Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, and the French overseas departments of Mayotte and Réunion to the south are nearby island nations and territories; and the Chagos Archipelago and the Maldives to the east. With an estimated population of 98,462 in 2020, it is the sovereign country in Africa with the lowest population density.

Before Europeans arrived in the 16th century, the Seychelles had no inhabitants. Until it came under full British control at the end of the 18th century, it was in conflict with British and French interests. It has transformed from a largely agricultural society to a market-based, diversified economy characterized by rapidly rising service, public sector, and tourism activities since declaring independence from the United Kingdom in 1976. Between 1976 and 2015, nominal GDP and purchasing power parity both increased by nearly 1600%. The government has taken steps to encourage foreign investment since the end of the 2010s.

Seychelles has the highest nominal GDP per capita of any African nation as of the beginning of the 21st century. After Mauritius, it has the highest Human Development Index of any African nation. The World Bank has designated it as the only African nation with an economy with high incomes.