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. The large reserves of tropical hardwoods, not fully exploited, support an expanding sawmill industry which 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.
black or mulatto 66%, white 12%, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian 12%, other 10%
Yellow fever:
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travellers over 1 year of age.
Malaria:
Malaria risk—P. falciparum (89%), P. vivax (11%)—is high throughout the year in nine municipalities of the territory bordering Brazil (Oiapoque river valley) and Suriname (Maroni river valley). In the other 13 municipalities transmission risk is low or negligible. Multidrug-resistant P. falciparum reported in areas influenced by Brazilian migration.
