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Natural resources

Natural resources of Seychelles

Oil, gas, minerals, forests and water in the Seychelles: what it produces, how it ranks in the world, who mines it and what it earns. Every figure is from an official source and is updated when the source is.

The Seychelles' natural resources at a glance
  • Resource rents, share of GDP (2021)

    0.1 %

  • Resources, share of goods exports (2025)

    31.2 %

  • Forest, share of land (2024)

    58.5 %

Source: World Bank; UN Comtrade; U.S. Energy Information Administration. Last checked 24 October 2026.

Mining and minerals

The U.S. Geological Survey records 8 mineral commodities with published production in the Seychelles between 2018 and 2022, from metals and gemstones to industrial minerals and fuels. The table includes processed products such as cement and steel, which USGS reports alongside raw minerals.

Every mineral commodity the Seychelles produced, 2018 to 2022As published by the U.S. Geological Survey. Units are metric tons, gross weight, unless otherwise specified unless the unit column says otherwise. Notes mark figures USGS estimated (e) or revised (r); "--" means zero and NA means not available.

Showing 8 of 8

FertilizersMauritiusNot published14,90015,30014,90016,30017,100Not published
Iron and steel, products, rebarMauritiusNot published26,00026,00022,10024,00026,200Not published
Salt, sea saltMauritiusNot published5105005007936742018: e; 2022: e
Sand and gravel, sandMauritiusNot published34,00037,00031,00038,00022,3002020: e; 2021: e; 2022: e
Stone, crushed, unspecified, including crushed basaltMauritiusNot published510,000527,000439,000535,000583,000Not published
Cement, hydraulicReunionthousand metric tons2602502182422402020: e; 2021: r, e; 2022: e
Granite, crusher dustSeychellesNot published196,095215,925166,139132,000163,065Not published
OtherSeychellesNot published173,469266,155230,050201,784241,520Not published

Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Minerals Yearbook, country tables. Last checked 24 October 2026.

What natural resources earn

Natural resource rents were 0.1% of GDP in 2021, with forests and timber the largest part. That ranks the Seychelles 53rd of 54 African countries. See all 54.

What the Seychelles' natural resources earn, as a share of GDPResource rents: the value of what is extracted minus the cost of extracting it, % of GDP.
0.080.10.120.140.160.182010201320162019202220250.1 %
0.080.10.120.140.160.18201020142018202220260.1 %
View the data as a table
PeriodForests
20100.1 %
20110.1 %
20120.2 %
20130.1 %
20140.1 %
20150.1 %
20160.1 %
20170.1 %
20180.1 %
20190.1 %
20200.1 %
20210.1 %
2022Not published
2023Not published
2024Not published
2025Not published
2026Not published

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.

Resources in the Seychelles' goods exports, 2025Share of all goods exports by product group.
Oil, gas and coal29.8 %Aluminium1.3 %Copper0.0 %Gold, diamonds and preciousmetals0.0 %Wood0.0 %
Oil, gas and coal29.8 %Aluminium1.3 %Copper0.0 %Gold, diamonds and precious metals0.0 %Wood0.0 %
View the data as a table
ItemValue (%)
Oil, gas and coal29.8
Aluminium1.3
Copper0.0
Gold, diamonds and precious metals0.0
Wood0.0

Source: UN Comtrade. Last checked 24 October 2026.

The Seychelles' land, forests and water
  • Forest, share of land (2024)

    58.5 %

  • Arable land, share of land (2024)

    0.3 %

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators. Last checked 24 October 2026.

Method and sources

Oil, gas and coal output and coal reserves are from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Oil and gas proved reserves are the EIA figures republished by Our World in Data; oil is converted from cubic metres to barrels at the standard factor. World production, reserves and ranks are from the U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries, ranked among the countries USGS names. The full list of commodities and the companies that mine them are from the USGS Minerals Yearbook country tables, which run a few years behind. Rents, land and water are from the World Bank, and export shares from UN Comtrade. Nothing is estimated by us. Figures last checked on 24 October 2026.

USGS country page for Seychelles. EIA international energy data. World Bank resource rents.

Frequently asked questions

What natural resources does the Seychelles have?

The Seychelles' main natural resources are fertilizers, salt and sand and gravel. Oil, gas and coal made up 29.8% of its goods exports in 2025. The World Bank puts natural resource rents at 0.1% of GDP in 2021, mostly from forests and timber. The U.S. Geological Survey also records production of granite.

Does the Seychelles produce oil?

The U.S. Energy Information Administration records no meaningful crude oil production for the Seychelles in 2025.

What is the Seychelles' most valuable natural resource?

By export earnings, oil, gas and coal: 29.8% of goods exports in 2025, according to UN Comtrade.

How much do natural resources contribute to the Seychelles' economy?

Natural resource rents, the value of resources extracted minus the cost of extracting them, were 0.1% of GDP in 2021. That ranks the Seychelles 53rd of 54 African countries.