French Guiana was originally inhabited by a number of indigenous American peoples.

Settled by the French during the 17th century, it was the site of penal settlements from 1852 until 1951; a border dispute with Brazil arose in the late nineteenth century over a vast area of jungle, leading to the short-lived pro-French independent state of Counani in the disputed territory and some fighting between settlers, before the dispute was resolved largely in favour of Brazil by the arbitration of the Swiss government.

The 1970s saw the settlement of Hmong refugees from Laos. A movement for increased autonomy from France gained momentum in the 1970's and 80's. Protests by those calling for more autonomy have become increasingly vocal; demonstrations in 1996, 1997 and 2000 all ended in violence.

Its position in South America made it a suitable place for France to launch troops from should the need ever arise.

The European Space Agency launches its communication satellites from Kourou.

Source: CIA World Fact Book

Population: 199,509 (July 2006 est.)

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Age structure: 0-14 years: 28.9% (male 29,540/female 28,210) 15-64 years: 64.8% (male 69,302/female 59,980) 65 years and over: 6.3% (male 6,350/female 6,127) (2006 est.)

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Median age: total: 28.6 years male: 29.6 years female: 27.4 years (2006 est.)

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Population growth rate: 1.96% (2006 est.)

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Birth rate: 20.46 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

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Death rate: 4.88 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

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Net migration rate: 4.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

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Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.16 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/female total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

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Infant mortality rate: total: 11.76 deaths/1,000 live births male: 12.58 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

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Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.27 years male: 73.95 years female: 80.75 years (2006 est.)

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Total fertility rate: 2.98 children born/woman (2006 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA

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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA

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HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

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Nationality: noun: French Guianese (singular and plural) adjective: French Guianese

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Ethnic groups: black or mulatto 66%, white 12%, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian 12%, other 10%

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Religions: Roman Catholic

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Languages: French

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Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 83% male: 84% female: 82% (1982 est.)

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. Forest and woodland cover 90% of the country. The large reserves of tropical hardwoods, not fully exploited, support an expanding sawmill industry that provides sawn logs for export. Cultivation of crops is limited to the coastal area, where the population is largely concentrated; rice and manioc are the major crops. French Guiana is heavily dependent on imports of food and energy. Unemployment is a serious problem, particularly among younger workers.

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GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.551 billion (2003 est.)

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GDP (official exchange rate): NA

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GDP - real growth rate: NA%

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GDP - per capita (PPP): $8,300 (2003 est.)

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GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA% Labor force: 58,800 (1997)

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Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 18.2% industry: 21.2% services: 60.6% (1980)

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Unemployment rate: 19.2% (2001)

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Population below poverty line: NA%

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Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

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Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (2002 est.)

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Budget: revenues: $135.5 million expenditures: $135.5 million; including capital expenditures of $105 million (1996) Agriculture - products: corn, rice, manioc (tapioca), sugar, cocoa, vegetables, bananas; cattle, pigs, poultry

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Industries: construction, shrimp processing, forestry products, rum, gold mining

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Industrial production growth rate: NA%

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Electricity - production: 465.2 million kWh (2003)

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Electricity - consumption: 432.6 million kWh (2003)

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Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2003)

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Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2003)

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Oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2003 est.)

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Oil - consumption: 6,600 bbl/day (2003 est.)

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Oil - exports: NA bbl/day

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Oil - imports: NA bbl/day

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Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2003 est.)

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Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2003 est.)

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Exports: $137.5 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

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Exports - commodities: shrimp, timber, gold, rum, rosewood essence, clothing

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Exports - partners: France 62%, Switzerland 7%, US 2% (2004)

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Imports: $625 million c.i.f. (2002 est.)

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Imports - commodities: food (grains, processed meat), machinery and transport equipment, fuels and chemicals

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Imports - partners: France 63%, US, Trinidad and Tobago, Italy (2004)

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Debt - external: $800.3 million (1988)

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Economic aid - recipient: $NA

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Currency (code): euro (EUR) note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries

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Exchange rates: euros per US dollar - 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001)

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Fiscal year: calendar year