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French Guiana: Quick Facts

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Facts

Also Known As Overseas Department of French Guiana • Département d’Outre-Mer de la Guyane française • Guyane
Heads Of Government Prefect (for France): Antoine Poussier; President (for French Guiana): Gabriel Serville
Capital Cayenne
Population (2026 est.) 293,200
Head Of State President of France: Emmanuel Macron
Official Language French
Official Religion none
Official Name Collectivité Territoriale de Guyane (Territorial Collectivity of French Guiana)1
Total Area (Sq Km) 83,846
Total Area (Sq Mi) 32,373
Monetary Unit euro (€)
Population Rank (2026) 185
Population Projection 2030 309,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi (2026) 9.1
Density: Persons Per Sq Km (2026) 3.5
Urban-Rural Population Urban: (2024) 86.7% • Rural: (2024) 13.3%
Life Expectancy At Birth Male: (2024) 76.1 years • Female: (2024) 81.8 years
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000) (2016) 4,719
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$) (2016) 17,767
Political Status territorial collectivity of France with one legislative house (Assembly [51])
1French Guiana’s status changed from that of an overseas department (département d’outre-mer) in December 2015.

Photos

France
Cayenne
Map of northern South America highlighting French Guiana in orange, with neighboring countries Brazil and Suriname labeled, and the capital city Cayenne marked. Surrounding countries including Venezuela, Guyana, and Colombia are also shown, along with the nearby Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
The Oyapock River Bridge, a cable-stayed structure, spans the Oyapock River with lush green forest on the riverbank beneath a partly cloudy sky.
Kourou: Guiana Space Centre
View of Ile du Diable, a small, lush island surrounded by blue water, with a stone building visible near the shore, seen from Ile Royale in the Iles du Salut group.
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