: 32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 703,639 GRT/889,705 DWT
by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 6, container 2, liquefied gas 4,
passenger 1, petroleum tanker 10, roll on/roll off 2,
short-sea/passenger 4
registered in other countries: 118 (2004 est.)
foreign-owned: Germany 1, Monaco 2, New Caledonia 1, Sweden 5

Airports:
477 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 283
over 3,047 m: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 28
914 to 1,523 m: 82
under 914 m: 65 (2004 est.)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 95

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 195
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 72
under 914 m: 120 (2004 est.)

Heliports:
3 (2003 est.)

Military France

Military branches:
Army (includes Marines, Foreign Legion, Army Light Aviation), Navy
(including naval air), Air Force (including Air Defense), National
Gendarmerie

Military manpower - military age and obligation:
17 years of age with consent for voluntary military service (2001)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 14,487,165 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 12,044,827 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 394,413 (2004 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$45,238.1 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.6% (2003)

Transnational Issues France

Disputes - international:
Madagascar claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands,
and Juan de Nova Island; Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims
Tromelin Island; territorial dispute between Suriname and French
Guiana; territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie Land); Matthew and
Hunter Islands, east of New Caledonia, claimed by France and Vanuatu

Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for and consumer of South American cocaine,
Southwest Asian heroin, and European synthetics

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

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@French Guiana

Introduction French Guiana

Background:
First settled by the French in 1604, French Guiana was the site of
notorious penal settlements until 1951. The European Space Agency
launches its communication satellites from Kourou.

Geography French Guiana

Location:
Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Brazil and Suriname

Geographic coordinates:
4