French Guiana population pyramid 2026
Latin America and the Caribbean · South America
318,872 people in 2026 (projected). French Guiana has one of the youngest pyramids of any French territory, with a wide, still-growing base and a marked shortage of men from age 25.
- 2026 population
- 318.9Krank 184 of 237
- Median age
- 24.9 yearsoldest rank 169
- Fertility rate
- 3.25births per woman · above replacement
- Structure
- Transitional7.5% age 65+
French Guiana population pyramid
2026 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
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The UN series provides historical estimates through 2023. Figures from 2024 onward—including 2026—are medium-scenario projections, not counts or predictions guaranteed to occur.
French Guiana age distribution in 2026
Children under 15 account for 30.8% of the population, while 7.5% are aged 65 or older. The remaining 61.7% are in the conventional working-age range of 15–64. On these shares, the site classifies French Guiana’s age structure as transitional; the guide to population pyramid types explains what that shape implies.
The total age dependency ratio is 62.2: about 62 people under 15 or 65+ for every 100 people aged 15–64 (50.0 children and 12.1 older people). This is an age-balance indicator, not a literal count of economic dependants per worker.
What shapes French Guiana’s population pyramid
Growth from births and arrivals
French Guiana’s population has grown from about 23,000 in 1950 to about 319,000 in 2026. Immigration drove much of the early growth: the UN estimates net arrivals of about 59,000 between 1950 and 1999, a period that included the building of the space centre at Kourou and the arrival of people from Suriname, Haiti and Brazil. Today natural increase does most of the work. Fertility, about 3.3 children per woman in 2026, is far above that of mainland France, and there are roughly five births for every death, so the 0–4 band is the widest in the pyramid.
An uneven balance of the sexes
In 1950 men clearly outnumbered women at working ages, a pattern often linked to the penal colony that operated in the territory until the early 1950s. Today the imbalance runs the other way. Women outnumber men in every band from 25–29 upwards, with about 80 men per 100 women at 30–34. Young people leaving for study and work in mainland France and a female majority among some immigrant groups are both plausible contributors, but the chart alone cannot separate them.
French Guiana’s age structure is closest to those of neighbouring Guyana, Cambodia and Kyrgyzstan. Under the medium scenario it grows to about 470,000 by 2050 and is still growing in 2100, one of the few European-administered territories with an expansive pyramid.
What to notice across the years
Distinctive cohorts and turning points
No five-year band under age 80 is more than 10% larger or smaller than both of its neighbours, so French Guiana’s 2026 pyramid has a comparatively smooth profile without sharp bulges or notches.
In the UN medium scenario births outnumber deaths in every year through 2100. People aged 65 and older are projected to outnumber children under 15 by 2095.
Births, deaths, and migration
A pyramid changes in only three ways: births add to the base, deaths remove people at every age, and migration adds or removes people mainly in young adulthood. In 2026, French Guiana is projected to record 7,560 births (about 21 births a day) and 1,545 deaths, a natural increase of 6,015. Net migration adds −765 people, ranking #189 in the net migration rate ranking.
Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates 157,345 births, 24,890 deaths, and cumulative net migration of +16,775. Over that period the balance of births and deaths moved the total more than migration did. See how migration shapes a pyramid and birth rate versus fertility rate. The medium scenario assumes net migration of +7,196 between 2026 and 2050.
Annual values 1950–2100; dashed lines after 2023 are the UN medium projection. The trend table below lists the values by decade.
Life expectancy and mortality
- Life expectancy, women
- 80.4 years51.3 in 1950
- Life expectancy, men
- 74.7 years44.8 in 1950
- Further years at 65
- 17.2 yearsboth sexes
- Infant mortality
- 8.3per 1,000 births · 104 in 1950
- Under-five mortality
- 10.4per 1,000 births
- Mother’s mean age at birth
- 29.5 yearssex ratio at birth 103.6
Women in French Guiana are projected to live 5.7 years longer than men, which is why the female side of the pyramid widens relative to the other at older ages (see the life expectancy gap ranking). Infant mortality has fallen from 104 to 8.3 deaths per 1,000 live births since 1950, ranking #132 of 237 in the infant mortality ranking (highest first). A mean age at childbearing of 29.5 years sets the spacing between generations, and so how far apart echo cohorts sit in the pyramid.
Median age, fertility rate, and global ranks for French Guiana
The median age of 24.9 years splits the population into two equal halves. A total fertility rate of 3.25 births per woman is above the replacement level of roughly 2.1, and life expectancy at birth is 77.5 years.
These ranks compare all 237 countries and areas in this dataset using the same 2026 UN medium projection. Ranks use the stored source precision, so displayed rounding can make adjacent values look identical; small differences should not be overinterpreted.
| Indicator | 2026 value | Global rank | Ranking direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 318,872 | #184 | Largest first |
| Median age | 24.9 years | #169 | Oldest first |
| Fertility rate | 3.25 | #48 | Highest first |
| Annual growth | +1.6% | #61 | Fastest first |
| Life expectancy | 77.5 years | #94 | Highest first |
| Population aged 65+ | 7.5% | #140 | Highest share first |
Largest age groups in French Guiana
The five largest cohorts identify where the 2026 population is concentrated. They can reflect past birth patterns, survival, and migration; the chart alone does not establish which cause dominates.
| Rank | Age group | Population | Share of total | Male / female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0–4 | 35,751 | 11.2% | 18.1K / 17.6K |
| 2 | 5–9 | 31,955 | 10.0% | 15.9K / 16K |
| 3 | 10–14 | 30,657 | 9.6% | 15.2K / 15.4K |
| 4 | 15–19 | 30,462 | 9.6% | 15.3K / 15.2K |
| 5 | 20–24 | 26,416 | 8.3% | 13.1K / 13.3K |
Sex ratio and the balance by age
In the 2026 projection, French Guiana has 153,544 males and 165,327 females. That is 92.9 males per 100 females, ranking #198 when the dataset is ordered from the highest male-to-female ratio to the lowest.
Males account for 48.2% of the population and females for 51.8%. There are 11,783 more females than males overall. Among people aged 65 and older, the ratio is 88.0 males per 100 females.
The overall balance can conceal large differences by age; how sex ratios change with age explains the usual pattern. The ratio reflects the male/female categories in the UN source and is not a measure of gender identity. Compare all profiles in the sex-ratio ranking.
At birth, 103.6 boys are projected to be born for every 100 girls in 2026, close to the biological norm of about 105 (compare the sex ratio at birth ranking). The ratio at birth sets the balance at the base of the pyramid; how it changes with age then depends on survival and migration.
How French Guiana has changed since 1950
The population has increased from 23,396 in 1950 to 318,872 in 2026, a change of 1263%. Over the same span, median age moved from 25.8 to 24.9 years.
The under-15 share changed from 31.7% to 30.8%, while the share aged 65 and older changed from 8.0% to 7.5%. These shifts show why total population growth and age-structure change need to be read separately.
How the population could change by 2050
Under the UN medium scenario, French Guiana’s population is projected to grow by about 48%, reaching 471,916 in 2050. The median age changes from 24.9 to 28.6 years.
The 65+ share is projected to rise by 4.8 percentage points to 12.3%. At the same time, the under-15 share is projected at 26.7%. How UN projections work explains the assumptions behind these figures.
The population is still rising at the end of the UN medium projection in 2100, when it reaches 775,238. The page therefore does not assign a peak year beyond the available horizon.
Population trend: 1950–2100
Mid-year population for every year. Estimates through 2023; dashed line shows the UN medium projection.
| Year | Population | Median age | Fertility | Life exp. | Births | Deaths | Net migration | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 23,396 | 25.8 | 4.91 | 47.7 | 812 | 526 | +6 | +1.3% |
| 1960 | 31,084 | 23.2 | 5.22 | 55.8 | 1,024 | 452 | +686 | +4.1% |
| 1970 | 46,279 | 20.8 | 4.72 | 63.3 | 1,437 | 429 | +396 | +3.0% |
| 1980 | 66,348 | 22.2 | 3.35 | 67.1 | 1,803 | 458 | +1,202 | +3.8% |
| 1990 | 112,686 | 23.3 | 3.74 | 70.9 | 3,428 | 566 | +1,547 | +3.9% |
| 2000 | 160,620 | 23.3 | 3.96 | 73.0 | 4,890 | 714 | +3,600 | +4.8% |
| 2010 | 234,565 | 22.2 | 3.43 | 75.9 | 6,064 | 915 | −826 | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 289,056 | 25.2 | 3.66 | 77.5 | 8,046 | 1,266 | −4,369 | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 303,402 | 25.2 | 3.39 | 77.0 | 7,707 | 1,502 | −1,091 | +1.7% |
| 2024* | 308,522 | 25.1 | 3.34 | 77.2 | 7,642 | 1,503 | −1,018 | +1.7% |
| 2026* | 318,872 | 24.9 | 3.25 | 77.5 | 7,560 | 1,545 | −765 | +1.6% |
| 2030* | 341,732 | 25.2 | 3.09 | 78.3 | 7,625 | 1,662 | +338 | +1.8% |
| 2040* | 406,168 | 27.1 | 2.79 | 80.0 | 8,251 | 2,121 | +465 | +1.6% |
| 2050* | 471,916 | 28.6 | 2.57 | 81.7 | 8,742 | 2,679 | +489 | +1.4% |
| 2060* | 537,432 | 30.5 | 2.40 | 83.2 | 9,167 | 3,179 | +544 | +1.2% |
| 2070* | 602,750 | 32.5 | 2.28 | 84.6 | 9,464 | 3,580 | +585 | +1.1% |
| 2080* | 665,982 | 34.7 | 2.16 | 85.8 | 9,565 | 3,995 | +650 | +0.9% |
| 2090* | 725,137 | 36.8 | 2.06 | 87.0 | 9,591 | 4,640 | +608 | +0.8% |
| 2100* | 775,238 | 38.9 | 1.99 | 88.1 | 9,577 | 5,615 | +584 | +0.6% |
* 2024 onward is the UN medium projection. Fertility is births per woman; life expectancy is years at birth; births, deaths, and net migration are counts for that calendar year.
Download every year, 1950–2100 (CSV)
2026 population by age and sex
The table provides the counts behind the chart. Age groups are five-year bands, with everyone aged 100 or older combined.
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | 18,137 | 17,614 | 35,751 | 11.2% |
| 5–9 | 15,918 | 16,037 | 31,955 | 10.0% |
| 10–14 | 15,210 | 15,447 | 30,657 | 9.6% |
| 15–19 | 15,309 | 15,153 | 30,462 | 9.6% |
| 20–24 | 13,123 | 13,293 | 26,416 | 8.3% |
| 25–29 | 9,543 | 10,839 | 20,382 | 6.4% |
| 30–34 | 8,457 | 10,513 | 18,970 | 5.9% |
| 35–39 | 9,395 | 10,813 | 20,208 | 6.3% |
| 40–44 | 9,002 | 10,968 | 19,970 | 6.3% |
| 45–49 | 8,116 | 9,238 | 17,354 | 5.4% |
| 50–54 | 7,352 | 8,600 | 15,952 | 5.0% |
| 55–59 | 6,785 | 7,733 | 14,518 | 4.6% |
| 60–64 | 6,024 | 6,380 | 12,404 | 3.9% |
| 65–69 | 4,512 | 4,840 | 9,352 | 2.9% |
| 70–74 | 3,250 | 3,273 | 6,523 | 2.0% |
| 75–79 | 1,849 | 2,297 | 4,146 | 1.3% |
| 80–84 | 1,004 | 1,307 | 2,311 | 0.7% |
| 85–89 | 414 | 660 | 1,074 | 0.3% |
| 90–94 | 125 | 261 | 386 | 0.1% |
| 95–99 | 20 | 56 | 76 | 0.0% |
| 100+ | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0.0% |
Countries with the most similar age structure
These profiles have the 2026 age distributions closest to French Guiana’s, measured by the total difference in the share of the population in each five-year band. Similar shapes can arise from very different histories, so the match is a starting point for comparison, not an explanation.
- Guyana95% overlap · median age 26.5
- Cambodia95% overlap · median age 26.4
- Kyrgyzstan95% overlap · median age 25.5
- Egypt95% overlap · median age 24.7
- Jordan94% overlap · median age 24.9
- Bolivia94% overlap · median age 25.5
To calculate school-age, working-age, or older groups with other boundaries, use the age-group calculator for French Guiana.
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APA
World Population Pyramid. (2026, October 19). French Guiana Population Pyramid 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/french-guiana/
MLA
“French Guiana Population Pyramid 2026.” World Population Pyramid, 19 Oct. 2026, worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/french-guiana/.
Chicago
World Population Pyramid. “French Guiana Population Pyramid 2026.” Last modified October 19, 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/french-guiana/.
Underlying data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of French Guiana in 2026?
Under the UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium scenario, French Guiana's population in 2026 is projected at 318,872.
What is the median age in French Guiana?
The projected median age in French Guiana in 2026 is 24.9 years: half the population is younger and half is older.
What is the fertility rate in French Guiana?
The projected total fertility rate in 2026 is 3.25 births per woman, above the replacement level of about 2.1 in low-mortality populations.
Is French Guiana's population projected to grow?
Between 2026 and 2050, the UN medium scenario indicates the population will grow by about 48%, from 318.9K to 471.9K.
What share of French Guiana is aged 65 or older?
In 2026, 7.5% of the projected population is aged 65 or older. By 2050, the medium scenario places the share at 12.3%.
How many babies are born in French Guiana each year?
The UN medium scenario projects 7,560 births and 1,545 deaths in 2026, about 21 births a day. Births exceed deaths by 6,015.
What is life expectancy in French Guiana for men and women?
Life expectancy at birth in 2026 is projected at 80.4 years for women and 74.7 years for men, a gap of 5.7 years in favour of women.
Does French Guiana have more immigrants or emigrants?
French Guiana is projected to lose about 765 more people through emigration than it gains in 2026. Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates cumulative net migration of +16,775.
What is the sex ratio in French Guiana?
The projected 2026 population sex ratio is 92.9 males per 100 females. This all-age ratio is different from the sex ratio at birth and can vary substantially by age.
Sources and notes
- United Nations, DESA, Population Division: World Population Prospects 2024, medium scenario.
- Population values are mid-year figures. Source values published in thousands are converted to people; displayed figures may imply more precision than is appropriate for planning.
- Historical values through 2023 are estimates. Values from 2024 onward are projections.
- Calculations follow the site methodology.