Land use in French Guiana
French Guiana: Land use was 16,435 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Land use in French Guiana, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in hectares.
Analysis
In 2023, land use in French Guiana stood at 16,435 hectares.
That represents a change of up 3.8% on the previous year and down 7.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, land use in French Guiana peaked at 18,900 hectares in 2015 and was at its lowest, 1,000 hectares, in 1970.
That places French Guiana 178th out of 223 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2,444 hectares | 2,000 hectares | 4,000 hectares | 9 |
| 1970s | 2,600 hectares | 1,000 hectares | 4,000 hectares | 10 |
| 1980s | 5,900 hectares | 4,000 hectares | 11,000 hectares | 10 |
| 1990s | 12,600 hectares | 12,000 hectares | 13,000 hectares | 10 |
| 2000s | 15,820 hectares | 15,100 hectares | 16,600 hectares | 10 |
| 2010s | 17,576 hectares | 14,600 hectares | 18,900 hectares | 10 |
| 2020s | 16,082 hectares | 15,667 hectares | 16,435 hectares | 4 |
Countries ranked near French Guiana
More environment data for French Guiana
- Forest area 7.98 million hectares (2025)
- Share of global forest area 0.2% (2025)
- Annual change in forest area -4,180 hectares (2025)
- Annual change in forest area as a share of forest area -0.1% (2025)
- Annual change in forest area vs. GDP per capita -0.1% (2025)
- Change in domestic forest area vs. deforestation embedded in imported goods -4,180 hectares (2025)
- Emissions of air pollutants 8,094 tonnes (2022)
- Exposure to air pollution from human sources 5.92 micrograms per cubic meter (2024)
- Exposure to outdoor air pollution 12.9 µg/m³ (2024)
- Land use over the long-term 29,697 hectares (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is land use in French Guiana?
- Land use in French Guiana was 16,435 hectares in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest land use recorded in French Guiana?
- The highest recorded value was 18,900 hectares in 2015.
- What is the lowest land use recorded in French Guiana?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,000 hectares in 1970.
- How does French Guiana rank for land use?
- French Guiana ranks 178th out of 223 countries with data for 2023.
- Is land use rising or falling in French Guiana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this French Guiana data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Land use. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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