Seychelles culture is a relatively homogeneous mix of European and African descent, and most citizens consider themselves as Seychellois, possessors of a unique culture and society. Contrary to other Indian Ocean island nations, the Asian population is relatively small; it consists almost entirely of Indians and Chinese. However, the intermixing of the Indian and Chinese communities with the larger society is greater than was common elsewhere. Most Seychellois are descendants of early French settlers and the African slaves brought to the Seychelles in the 19th century by the British, who freed them from slave ships on the East African coast. There is also a considerable number of expatriates living and working in Seychelles.

About 90% of the Seychellois people live on Mahé Island. Most others live on Praslin and La Digue, with the remaining smaller islands either sparsely populated or uninhabited.

Creole is the native language of 94% of the people; however, English and French are commonly used. English remains the language of government and commerce, while French is the third official language. The increased emphasis on Creole is designed to facilitate the teaching of reading to primary-level students and to help establish a distinct culture and heritage. Creole in Seychelles developed from dialects of southwest France spoken by the original settlers. It consists basically of a French vocabulary with a few Malagasy, Bantu, English, and Hindi words, and has a mixture of Bantu and French syntax.