French Guiana
overseas department of FranceIndependence none (overseas department of France)
French Guiana as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 113 fields, one of 17 editions from 1990 to 2006.
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Geography
Northern South America, bordering on the North Atlantic Ocean between | Suriname and Brazil
23 fieldstotal area
91,000 sq km
land area
89,150 sq km
comparative area
slightly smaller than Indiana
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
territorial sea
12 nm
International disputes
Suriname claims area between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa)
arable land
0%
permanent crops
0%
meadows and pastures
0%
forest and woodland
82%
other
18%
current issues
NA
natural hazards
NA
international agreements
NA
People
Overseas department of France
48 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1994 est.)
Legislature, 19 seatsone dot, one seat
Legislature, 31 seatsone dot, one seat
total population
75.2 years
male
71.93 years
female
78.63 years (1994 est.)
noun
French Guianese (singular and plural)
adjective
French Guianese
Ethnic divisions
black or mulatto 66%, Caucasian 12%, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian 12%, other 10%
total population
82%
male
81%
female
83%
by occupation
services, government, and commerce 60.6%, industry 21.2%, agriculture 18.2% (1980)
conventional long form
Department of Guiana
conventional short form
French Guiana
local long form
none
local short form
Guyane
chief of state
President Francois MITTERRAND (since 21 May 1981)
head of government
- Prefect Jean-Francois CORDET (since NA 1992);
- President of the General Council Elie CASTOR (since NA);
- President of the Regional Council Antoine KARAM (22 March 1993)
cabinet
Council of Ministers
General Council
- elections last held 25 September and 8 October 1988 (next to be held NA);
- results - percent of vote by party NA;
- seats - (19 total) PSG 12, URC 7
Regional Council
- elections last held 22 March 1992 (next to be held NA);
- results - percent of vote by party NA;
- seats - (31 total) PSG 16
French Senate
- elections last held 24 September 1989 (next to be held September 1998);
- results - percent of vote by party NA;
- seats - (1 total) PSG 1
French National Assembly
- elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held NA 1998);
- results - percent of vote by party NA;
- seats - (2 total) RPR 1, independent 1
Judicial branch
Court of Appeals (highest local court based in Martinique with jurisdiction over Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana)
Political parties and leaders
- Guianese Socialist Party (PSG), Elie CASTRO;
- Conservative Union for the Republic (UPR), Leon BERTRAND;
- Rally for the Center Right (URC);
- Rally for the Republic (RPR);
- Guyana Democratic Front (FDG), Georges OTHILY;
- Walwari Committee, Christine TAUBIRA-DELANON
Economy
The economy is tied closely to that of France through subsidies and | imports.
25 fieldsOverview
The economy is tied closely to that of France through subsidies and imports. Besides the French space center at Kourou, fishing and forestry are the most important economic activities, with exports of fish and fish products (mostly shrimp) accounting for more than 60% of total revenue in 1992.
The large reserves of tropical hardwoods, not fully exploited, support an expanding sawmill industry that provides sawn logs for export. Cultivation of crops - rice, cassava, bananas, and sugar cane - is limited to the coastal area, where the population is largely concentrated. French Guiana is heavily dependent on imports of food and energy. Unemployment is a serious problem, particularly among younger workers.
revenues
$735 million
expenditures
$735 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1987)
commodities
shrimp, timber, rum, rosewood essence
partners
France 52%, Spain 15%, US 5% (1992)
commodities
food (grains, processed meat), other consumer goods, producer goods, petroleum
partners
France 77%, Germany 11%, US 5% (1992)
capacity
92,000 kW
production
185 million kWh
consumption per capita
1,450 kWh (1992)
Agriculture
- some vegetables for local consumption;
- rice, corn, manioc, cocoa, bananas, sugar;
- livestock - cattle, pigs, poultry
recipient
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.51 billion
Exchange rates
French francs (F) per US$1 - 5.9205 (January 1994), 5.6632 (1993), 5.2938 (1992), 5.6421 (1991), 5.4453 (1990), 6.3801 (1989)
Communications
12 fieldstotal
680 km
paved
510 km
unpaved
improved, unimproved earth 170 km
Inland waterways
460 km, navigable by small oceangoing vessels and river and coastal steamers; 3,300 km navigable by native craft
total
10
usable
10
with permanent-surface runways
4
with runways over 3,659 m
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m
1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m
1
Telecommunications
- fair open-wire and microwave radio relay system;
- 18,100 telephones;
- broadcast stations - 5 AM, 7 FM, 9 TV;
- 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
Defense Forces
French Forces, Gendarmerie
5 fieldsCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “French Guiana.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/french-guiana/1994.