28,025) 65 years and over: 6.2% (male 1,622; female 3,392) (2005 est.) Median age total: 36.8 years. Country comparison to the world: 76th male: 36.3 years female: 37.4 years (2020 est.) Birth rate 12.37 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 148th 12.63 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) Country comparison to the world: 146th Death rate 6.88 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 123rd 6.83 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) Country comparison to the world: 125th Total fertility rate 1.82 children born/woman (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 141st 1.75 children born/woman (2005 est.) Population growth rate 0.64% (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 139th 0.67% (2021 est.) Country comparison to the world: 142nd 0.79% (2005 est.) Demographics profile Seychelles has very little indigenous population and was first permanently settled by a small group of French colonizers, African, and South Indians in 1770. Seychelles’ modern population is composed of the descendants of French and later British colonizers, Africans, and Indian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern traders and is concentrated on three of its 155 islands – the vast majority on Mahe and lesser numbers on Praslin and La Digue. Seychelles’ population grew rapidly during the second half of the 20th century, largely due to natural increase, but the pace has slowed because of fertility decline. The total fertility rate dropped sharply from 4.0 children per woman in 1980 to 1.9 in 2015, mainly as a result of a family planning program, free education and health care, and increased female labor force participation. Life expectancy has increased steadily, but women on average live 9 years longer than men, a difference that is higher than that typical of developed countries. The combination of reduced fertility and increased longevity has resulted in an aging population, which will put pressure on the government's provision of pensions and health care. Seychelles’ sustained investment in social welfare services, such as free primary health care and education up to the post-secondary level, have enabled the country to achieve a high human development index score, among the highest in Africa. Despite some of its health and education indicators being nearly on par with Western countries, Seychelles has a high level of income inequality. Net migration rate 0.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 67th 0.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) Country comparison to the world: 62nd Dependency ratios total dependency ratio: 46.7