Land use in French Guiana
French Guiana: Land use was 16,435 hectares in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
16,435 hectares
Change on year
up 3.8%
World rank
179th
of 224 countries
All-time high
18,900 hectares
in 2015
All-time low
1,000 hectares
in 1970
Years of data
63
1961–2023
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 179th out of 224 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.
Land use in French Guiana, year by year
| Year | hectares | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 3,000 hectares | — |
| 1962 | 4,000 hectares | +33.3% |
| 1963 | 3,000 hectares | -25.0% |
| 1964 | 2,000 hectares | -33.3% |
| 1965 | 2,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 2,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 2,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 2,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 2,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 1,000 hectares | -50.0% |
| 1971 | 2,000 hectares | +100.0% |
| 1972 | 2,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 2,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 2,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 3,000 hectares | +50.0% |
| 1976 | 3,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 3,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 4,000 hectares | +33.3% |
| 1979 | 4,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 4,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 4,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 5,000 hectares | +25.0% |
| 1983 | 5,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 5,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 5,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 6,000 hectares | +20.0% |
| 1987 | 6,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 8,000 hectares | +33.3% |
| 1989 | 11,000 hectares | +37.5% |
| 1990 | 12,000 hectares | +9.1% |
| 1991 | 12,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 12,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 13,000 hectares | +8.3% |
| 1994 | 13,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 13,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 13,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 13,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 13,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 12,000 hectares | -7.7% |
| 2000 | 16,000 hectares | +33.3% |
| 2001 | 16,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 16,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 16,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 16,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 16,000 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 16,600 hectares | +3.8% |
| 2007 | 15,300 hectares | -7.8% |
| 2008 | 15,100 hectares | -1.3% |
| 2009 | 15,200 hectares | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 15,200 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 14,600 hectares | -3.9% |
| 2012 | 15,900 hectares | +8.9% |
| 2013 | 17,700 hectares | +11.3% |
| 2014 | 18,400 hectares | +4.0% |
| 2015 | 18,900 hectares | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 18,600 hectares | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 18,820 hectares | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 18,820 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 18,820 hectares | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 16,384 hectares | -12.9% |
| 2021 | 15,667 hectares | -4.4% |
| 2022 | 15,840 hectares | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 16,435 hectares | +3.8% |
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
- 176 Guadeloupe 22,387 hectares compare
- 177 Mayotte 19,389 hectares compare
- 178 Martinique 16,848 hectares compare
- 180 Montenegro 14,340 hectares compare
- 181 Kuwait 14,000 hectares compare
- 182 Bahamas 11,000 hectares compare
More environment data for French Guiana
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 3.05 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 1.45 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.218 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.71 °C (2025)
- Nutrient potash K2O (total) — Use per area of cropland 53.86 kg/ha (2024)
- Country area — Area 8,366 1000 ha (2024)
- Nutrient potash K2O (total) — Use per value of agricultural production 16.31 g/Int$ (2005)
- Nutrient potash K2O (total) — Use per capita 3.03 kg/cap (2024)
- Nutrient potash K2O (total) — Agricultural Use 935 t (2024)
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 179th out of 224 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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