E-commerce in the Seychelles

E-commerce

Internet access

The internet sector in Seychelles has seen significant growth and development in recent years, with increasing access and availability of high-speed internet services. Seychelles has a population of around 99.258, with an internet penetration rate of 81.6% as of 2022. According to the latest data by Ookla, the median fixed internet connection speed is 30.86 Mbps. Around 67 thousand people use social media (although social media users may not represent unique individuals), with Facebook being the main platform (57 thousand users), followed by LinkedIn (38 thousand users) and Instagram (25.3 thousand users – Data Reportal). Data from GSMA Intelligence shows that there were 117.1 thousand cellular mobile connections in Seychelles at the start of 2023.
Despite the progress in internet access and infrastructure, there is still a digital divide in Seychelles, with some remote areas and low-income households lacking access to affordable internet services.
The latest figures from the National Bureau of Statistics show that the ICT sector as a whole recorded a turnover of SCR 1.07 billion in 2021, up by 26.4% compared to the previous year.

E-commerce market

E-commerce in Seychelles is limited, but its use is on the rise, particularly after the COVID-19 outbreak. The main obstacle is that the speed and bandwidth required for modern e-commerce transactions are lacking in some of the more remote areas. The E-commerce market in Seychelles is projected to grow by 14.35% (2023-2027) resulting in a market volume of USD 46.41 million in 2027 (Statista).
A survey conducted by the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 2019 found that 56% of Seychellois had shopped online at least once in the past year, with clothing, electronics, and household items being the most commonly purchased products. Online payments are typically made using credit or debit cards, with some e-commerce platforms also accepting bank transfers or cash on delivery.
There is currently no specific e-commerce legislation in Seychelles, but existing consumer protection laws apply to online transactions.