Kourou Population and Area (French Guiana)

Kourou: Population and Area

With 25,026 inhabitants (INSEE total population in force on January 1, 2026), Kourou is the 370^th most populous town in France in 2026 and the 5^th most populous in the French Guiana department, out of 22 communes. It covers 2,160 km² (12^th largest area in France, 12^th largest in the department), with a population density of 12 inhabitants per km², 9.5 times less dense than France as a whole (national average: 110 inhabitants/km²), which ranks it 30,400^th in France for density.

Kourou is located in the French Guiana department (973), in the French Guiana region, where it ranks 5^th by population out of 22 communes. The most populous town in the French Guiana department is Cayenne (62,951 inhabitants); the department is home to 296,053 people over 83,534 km².

See the full ranking of communes in the French Guiana department and the regional ranking: largest city in French Guiana.

Towns of similar size in the French Guiana department: Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni (pop. 54,718), Matoury (pop. 36,694), Remire-Montjoly (pop. 28,068), Macouria (pop. 20,050), Mana (pop. 11,076), Apatou (pop. 10,327).

Sources: INSEE, official population figures in force on January 1, 2026 (total population); areas: IGN / Observatoire des territoires; INSEE code 97304. Rankings are calculated across the 34,858 communes of metropolitan and overseas France in our database.

Kourou is a town on the Atlantic coast of French Guiana, in the French Guiana region. It is best known for its space center, the launch base for European rockets. But Kourou has much more to offer, with its beautiful beaches, its hiking trails and its rich culture.

The Guiana Space Center is one of the town's most important sites. This is where European rockets are launched and where the facilities for European space missions are located. Visitors can discover the space center on guided tours that introduce them to the history of space exploration and let them see the launch facilities and the equipment used for the missions.

Besides the space center, Kourou also boasts beautiful beaches. Cocoteraie beach is especially popular with tourists. Visitors can also head to Pariacabo beach, a quieter spot that is ideal for relaxing and soaking up the sun.

Kourou is also surrounded by lush nature and offers many hiking trails for nature lovers. Visitors can explore the rainforest and discover animal and plant species unique to the region.

The town of Kourou is also rich in history and culture. Visitors can discover the Place des Amandiers, a gathering place that hosts many local festivals and celebrations. The town is also home to the Space Museum, where visitors can learn about the history of space exploration.

In short, Kourou is a fascinating town that offers a unique experience of French Guiana. Whether they come to discover the European space center, relax on its beaches, explore nature or learn about the history and culture of the region, visitors are sure to be amazed by the wonders of Kourou.