Fun factual information on French Guiana

General information on French Guiana:

Occupied by the French since 1605, French Guiana was known as the French penal place until 1951. Moreover it is the site of the European Space Agency that launches its satellites from Kourou.

Geographical information on French Guiana:

Geographical Position: South America, along the Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Brazil

Map Ref Latitude & Longitude 4 degrees 00' North, 53 degrees 00’ West

Total Land & Sea Area Total: 90,000 square kilometres Sea Area1,900 square kilometres land area: 89,000 square kilometres

Land boundaries: Total: 1,200 kilometres Border countries: Brazil 670 kilometres , Suriname 500 kilometres Coastal Length: 380 kilometres

Climatological Conditions:

Tropical; Country terrain: Mainly plains along the coasts rising to hills and small mountains in the center.

Highest & Lowest Elevations: Lowest elevation: Atlantic Ocean at mean sea level highest point: Bellevue de l'Inini 850 meters

Natural resources: Bauxite and gold deposits, timber and lumber and lumber, cinnabar, kaolin, angle Land use: arable land area: 0.1 percent permanent crops: 0.05 percent other: 99.86 percent (85 percent forest, 15 percent other) (1998 estimate.) Irrigated land area: 25 square kilometres (1998 estimate.)

Natural hazards: Heavy showers and dramatic storms; occasional floods

Geopolitical information on French Guiana:

- People French Guiana Population: 187,000 (July 2003 estimate.) Age structure: Under 15: 30 percent From 15 to 65: 65 percent Over 65: 5 percent Median age: Total: 28 years male: 29 years female: 27 years (2002) Population growth rate: 2.5 percent (2003 estimate.) Birth rate: 21 births per thousand population (2003 estimate.) Death rate: 5 deaths per thousand population (2003 estimate.) Net migration rate: 7.5 migrant per thousand population (2003 estimate.)

infant mortality rate: Total: 13 deaths per thousand live births female: 12 deaths per thousand live births (2003 estimate.) male: 14 deaths per thousand live births Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77 years male: 73 years female: 80 years (2003 estimate.) Total fertility rate: 3 children born/woman (2003 estimate.)

Nationality: French Guianese (singular and plural)

Ethnicities: black/mulatto 65 percent, white 18 percent, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian 10 percent, other 7 percent

Religions: Roman Catholic

Languages: French Literacy information on French Guiana: definition: age 15 and more can read and write total population: 84 percent male: 85 percent female: 83 percent (1982 estimate.) Government French Guiana Department of Guiana French Guiana

Capital city: Cayenne

National holiday: Bastille Day, 14 July (1789) Constitution: 28 September 1958 Legal system: French legal system

Suffrage: All citizens eligible to vote from the age of 18 years

Executive branch: Head of State: French President represented by Prefect Head of government: President of the General Council

Legislative branch: Unicameral General Council and a unicameral Regional Council Judicial branch Court of Appeals

Economy of French Guiana:

Economy - overview: The economy mainly rely on French subsidies and imports. Nevertheless angling industry and forestry but overall the space center in Kourouare the basis of the country’s economy. Moreover agriculture (rice and manioc) is limited to the coastal area and unemployment is a serious problem. GDP - Gross Domestic Product: - $USD2.3 billion (2002 estimate.) GDP - Gross Domestic Product - per capita: - $USD15,000 (2000 estimate.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2 percent (2002 estimate.) Labor force: 59,000 (1997) Labor force - by occupation: Services 60 percent, industry 21 percent, agriculture 19 percent (1980) rate of unemployment: 20 percent (2001)

Budget: incomes: $USD230 million spending: $USD400 million, Industries: Building, shrimp processing, wood products, rum, gold deposits.

Agriculture - products:

Cereals, sugar cane cane, cocoa, vegetables, bananas; meats. Exports: $USD150 million

Exports - commodities: Shrimp, timber and lumber and lumber, gold deposits, rum, wood products,clothing Exports - partners: France 60 percent, Switzerland 8 percent, US 3 percent (2001) Imports: $USD630 million c.i.f.

Imports - commodities: food processing, plant and transport equipment, hydrocarbons. Imports - partners: France 65 percent, US, Trinidad and Tobago, Italy (2002) Debt - external: $USD1 billion (1988)

Currency: Euro; French franc Currency code: EUR; FRF

Communications information on French Guiana:

Telephones: 47,000 (1997) Radio broadcast stations: Amplitude Modulation 2, Frequency Modulation 14, SW 6. (1998) Television stations: 3 Internet country code: .gf

Travel to French Guiana:

Railroad networks: None. Roading System: Total: 700 kilometres

Airports: 10 (2002)

Military: French Guiana:

Military branches: no regular indigenous military forces; French Forces, Gendarmerie Military spending: International Issues French Guiana Disputes - international: Disputes with Suriname over Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini

Now you have learned the information on French Guiana – learn the history of French speaking countries.

More information on french-guiana, a French-speaking nation
History of French speaking countries | Flag of French Guiana | Map of French Guiana | Learn French in French Guiana |

Information on French Guiana
Learn French Help – A Resource for the those Learning to speak French
32 Alverton, Great Linford, Milton Keynes, MK14 5EF, United Kingdom

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