Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni Population and Area (French Guiana)

Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni: Population and Area

With 54,718 inhabitants (INSEE total population in force on January 1, 2026), Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni is the 117^th most populous town in France in 2026 and the 2^nd most populous in the French Guiana department, out of 22 communes. It covers 4,830 km² (6^th largest area in France, 6^th largest in the department), with a population density of 11 inhabitants per km², 9.7 times less dense than France as a whole (national average: 110 inhabitants/km²), which ranks it 30,560^th in France for density.

Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni is located in the French Guiana department (973), in the French Guiana region, where it ranks 2^nd 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: Cayenne (pop. 62,951), Matoury (pop. 36,694), Remire-Montjoly (pop. 28,068), Kourou (pop. 25,026).

Sources: INSEE, official population figures in force on January 1, 2026 (total population); areas: IGN / Observatoire des territoires; INSEE code 97311. Rankings are calculated across the 34,858 communes of metropolitan and overseas France in our database.

Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni is a town in French Guiana, in the French Guiana region. It is the second-largest town in French Guiana after Cayenne, with a population of around 47,000.

The town lies on the border with Suriname, and its strategic location makes it an important economic center for the region. It has a river port and an airport, which make it a major transit hub.

Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni is also known for its historical heritage, especially its penal colony, which was one of the largest French penal institutions of the late 19th century. Visitors can tour the Centre d'Interprétation de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine, which offers exhibitions on the history of the town and the region.

Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni also offers plenty of leisure activities for residents and visitors alike. The town is surrounded by dense tropical rainforest, with opportunities for hiking and for observing wildlife and plants.

Finally, Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni is rich in local cultures. The town is the center of the Bushinengue community, a community of African origin that fled slavery and founded villages along the Maroni River.

All in all, Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni is a dynamic, culturally rich town that offers many opportunities to residents and visitors. Whether you are interested in history, nature or culture, you will find something to enjoy in this fascinating town in French Guiana.