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Country name: conventional long form: Department of Guiana conventional short form: French Guiana local long form: none local short form: Guyane Dependency status: overseas department of France Government type: NA Capital: Cayenne Administrative divisions: none (overseas department of France) Independence: none (overseas department of France) National...
Economy - overview: The economy is tied closely to the larger French economy through subsidies and imports. Besides the French space center at Kourou (which accounts for 25% of GDP), fishing and forestry are the most important economic activities. Forest and woodland cover 90% of the country. The large reserves of tropical hardwoods, not fully exploited,...
The Lonely Planet presents some basic background on the Culture of French Guiana.
French Guiana was discovered by the Spanish in 1496, who established a few settlements in 1503 and 1504. The French first moved in a century later. Under the 1667 Treaty of Breda, the Dutch, who had also shown an interest in the area, were forced out. Numerous changes in control followed over the next 200 years, alternating between France, Britain,...
French Guiana is situated on the northeast coast of South America and is bordered by Brazil to the south and the east and by Surinam to the west. The southern Serra Tumucumaque Mountains are part of the eastern frontier, whilst the rest is formed by the River Oyapock. Surinam is to the west along the rivers Maroni-Itani and to the north is the Atlantic...
Population: 191,309 (July 2004 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 29.6% (male 28,959; female 27,657) 15-64 years: 64.5% (male 66,388; female 57,020) 65 years and over: 5.9% (male 5,736; female 5,549) (2004 est.) Median age: total: 28.3 years male: 29.4 years female: 27.2 years (2004 est.) Population growth rate: 2.25% (2004 est.) Birth rate: 21 births/1,000...
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