Country Profile: French Guiana

Geography

South America, north of Brazil, bordering the Atlantic Ocean. Forest and woodland cover 90 percent of the land. Equivalent to 301 by 301 kilometers or roughly 188 by 188 miles. Capital: Cayenne.

Government

French territory

Economy

Figures unless otherwise stated are from the CIA Factbook.

Estimated per capita GDP (2009 U.S. dollars)

2003: $8,300
1999: $6,000

Exports shrimp, timber, gold, rum, rosewood essence, clothing, mainly to France. Only 2 percent to the U.S.

Factbook: "The economy is tied closely to the much 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.

Population

Estimated for July 2005: 195,506. Estimate growth for 2005: 2.1 percent

Migration:

2005: More arriving than leaving. A net gain of 5.11 per 1,000 population (999 people).

Health

Infant mortality estimated for 2005: 12.07 deaths before the age of one year, per 1,000 live births.

Average life expectancy at birth estimated for 2005: 77.09 years

Religion and Ethnicities

Catholic. Black or mulatto 66 percent, white 12 percent, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian 12 percent, other 10 percent.

SOURCES:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/

Guyane