Arrondissement of Cayenne
Cayenne arrondissement shows enclave economics like a space station: the Guiana Space Centre generates 15% of GDP while unemployment runs double that of mainland France.
The Arrondissement of Cayenne demonstrates how a single specialized facility can create an economic enclave disconnected from its surroundings. The Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, established in 1964, accounts for approximately 15-16% of French Guiana's GDP and directly or indirectly supports thousands of jobs. Europe's Ariane 6 rocket launched successfully from here in 2025, and MaiaSpace plans its inaugural launch for late 2025 after investing tens of millions of euros. The equatorial location, just 5 degrees north of the equator, provides the physics advantage that has made this South American territory Europe's gateway to space.
Yet this high-tech cluster creates stark contrasts with local realities. French Guiana's unemployment rate runs double that of mainland France, with much of the population disconnected from the spaceport's specialized employment. The cost of living soars due to import dependency, while income inequality creates visible stratification. CNES, the French Space Agency, attempts to bridge this gap through agreements funding local projects, from health centers in Sinnamary to sports facilities in Apatou.
The arrondissement encompasses both Cayenne, the capital, and Kourou, making it the administrative and technological heart of French Guiana. Infrastructure investments driven by the spaceport, including airport modernization and improved roads, benefit the broader territory. The population reached 292,354 for all of French Guiana by January 2025, with GDP at roughly $4.93 billion, the second largest in the Guianas after oil-rich Guyana. The space center exemplifies niche construction at continental scale: Europe built its launch capability in a tropical rainforest because physics, not politics, determined the optimal location.