French Guiana

French Guiana is part of France on the northeast coast of South America. Its administrative capital is Cayenne, and the Guiana Space Centre is near Kourou.

Find French Guiana

● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.

At a glance

Capital: Cayenne
Languages: French & regional languages
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Population: 298,5541 January 2026 · INSEE · provisional estimate
Area: 83,534 km²32,252.64 square miles
French department: 1946A single territorial authority has combined regional and departmental functions since 2016.

French Guiana in context

South America and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Cayenne; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.

Natural Earth · locator map

Geography & languages

Physical geography

A narrow coastal plain rises toward inland hills and uplands. Tropical rainforest covers much of the territory, with major rivers forming parts of the borders.

Languages

French is official. Guianese Creole, Indigenous languages and Maroon languages are also important, alongside languages brought by more recent migration.

Location

On the Atlantic coast of northeastern South America, between Suriname and Brazil.

Flag

The French tricolor has three vertical bands of blue, white and red. It is the national flag used in French Guiana; this page follows the national flag shown in the card set.

Sources: INSEE · population estimates · Collectivité Territoriale de Guyane · history · French Government · institutional history · ESA · Guiana Space Centre

History & status

French Guiana has a long Indigenous history followed by European colonisation, plantation slavery and the development of Maroon communities. Slavery was abolished in 1848. It became an overseas department of France in 1946, rather than an independent state. The Guiana Space Centre began operating in 1968. In 2016, a single territorial authority combined the former regional and departmental responsibilities.

1848
Slavery is abolished
1946
French Guiana becomes an overseas department of France
1968
The Guiana Space Centre begins operating
2016
The single territorial authority begins work

Sources: INSEE · population estimates · Collectivité Territoriale de Guyane · history · French Government · institutional history · ESA · Guiana Space Centre

Economy

Main activities

Public services, construction, commerce and the space industry are important to the economy. The Guiana Space Centre near Kourou supports launch operations, technical work and related services. Gold extraction, fishing, forestry and agriculture also contribute. The territory faces high import dependence and substantial differences in access to jobs, transport and public services.

Industry and production

Space-launch operations and support, construction, gold extraction, fishing, forestry and food production.

Sources: INSEE · population estimates · Collectivité Territoriale de Guyane · history · French Government · institutional history · ESA · Guiana Space Centre

Population

298,554 · 1 January 2026 · INSEE · provisional estimate

Sources: INSEE · population estimates · Collectivité Territoriale de Guyane · history · French Government · institutional history · ESA · Guiana Space Centre

Government

A single territorial authority within France, combining departmental and regional responsibilities. An elected Assembly of French Guiana and its President govern locally. A Prefect represents the French state, and residents elect representatives to the French Parliament. French Guiana is also an outermost region of the European Union.

Sources: INSEE · population estimates · Collectivité Territoriale de Guyane · history · French Government · institutional history · ESA · Guiana Space Centre

Knowledge check

Three questions about French Guiana.

QUESTION 1 OF 3

Which currency is listed for French Guiana?

Sources & notes

Sources: INSEE · population estimates · Collectivité Territoriale de Guyane · history · French Government · institutional history · ESA · Guiana Space Centre

Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.

Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.