<hdr>The World Factbook 1994: French Guiana<nl>Economy</hdr><body>
<list>
<item><hi format=bold>Overview:</hi> 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.
<item><hi format=bold>National product:</hi> GDP—exchange rate conversion—$421 million (1986)
<item><hi format=bold>National product real growth rate:</hi> NA%
<item><hi format=bold>National product per capita:</hi> $4,390 (1986)