2026 comparison
Cayenne vs Kourou: 2026 comparison
Cayenne has more inhabitants than Kourou: 62,951 versus 25,026, or 2.5 times as many. Kourou covers a larger area (2,160 km² versus 23.6 km²), but Cayenne is more densely populated: 2,667 inhabitants per km² versus 12.
The median apartment price is higher in Cayenne: €2,668 per m² versus €2,000.
The two cities are 49 km apart as the crow flies, in the same department.
Cayenne
City in French Guiana
FFrench Guiana973French Guiana
- Population
- 62,951 inhab.
- 92nd in France · 1st in its department
- Area
- 23.6 km²
- Density
- 2,667 per km²
Kourou
City in French Guiana
FFrench Guiana973French Guiana
- Population
- 25,026 inhab.
- 370th in France · 5th in its department
- Area
- 2,160 km²
- Density
- 12 per km²
Population
Population and demographics
Municipal population since 1962
CayenneKourou
| Criterion | Cayenne | Kourou | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population inhab.More populous: Cayenne2.5 times as high | 62,951 | 25,026 | More populous: Cayenne2.5 times as high |
| Change over 5 yearsSmaller decline: Kourou+1.0 pt | −1.5% | −0.5% | Smaller decline: Kourou+1.0 pt |
| Change over 10 yearsStronger growth: Cayenne+18 pts | +14.6% | −3.8% | Stronger growth: Cayenne+18 pts |
| Density per km²Denser: Cayenne230 times as high | 2,667 | 11.6 | Denser: Cayenne230 times as high |
| Under 15More young people: Kourou+3.2 pts | 26.3% | 29.5% | More young people: Kourou+3.2 pts |
| 65 and overMore seniors: Cayenne+3.3 pts | 9.7% | 6.4% | More seniors: Cayenne+3.3 pts |
| People per householdLarger households: Kourou+0.58 | 2.52 | 3.10 | Larger households: Kourou+0.58 |
Sources: INSEE, official population figures, INSEE, censuses, INSEE, census
Housing
Real estate prices and housing
| Criterion | Cayenne | Kourou | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median apartment price €/m²More expensive: Cayenne+33% | 2,668 | 2,000 | More expensive: Cayenne+33% |
| Median house price €/m²More expensive: Cayenne+7% | 2,559 | 2,400 | More expensive: Cayenne+7% |
| Apartment rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Cayenne+6% | 16.6 | 15.7 | More expensive: Cayenne+6% |
| House rent €/m² per month, utilities includedMore expensive: Cayenne+1% | 16.4 | 16.2 | More expensive: Cayenne+1% |
| Homeowner householdsMore homeowners: Kourou+15 pts | 20.7% | 35.3% | More homeowners: Kourou+15 pts |
| Share of housesMore houses: Kourou+25 pts | 28.8% | 54.1% | More houses: Kourou+25 pts |
| Social housing (SRU law) share of primary residences | 41.7% | — | |
| Second homesMore second homes: Kourou+2.0 pts | 4.4% | 6.4% | More second homes: Kourou+2.0 pts |
| Vacant homesMore vacant homes: Cayenne+1.1 pt | 11.5% | 10.4% | More vacant homes: Cayenne+1.1 pt |
| Property tax (combined rate)Higher rate: Kourou+7.2 pts | 70.95% | 78.19% | Higher rate: Kourou+7.2 pts |
Sources: DGFiP (DVF), Ministry of Housing (rent map), INSEE, census, Ministry for the Ecological Transition (SRU), DGFiP, local taxation
Income and jobs
Residents’ income and jobs
| Criterion | Cayenne | Kourou | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average taxable income per householdHigher: Kourou+17% | €19,910 | €23,320 | Higher: Kourou+17% |
| Households paying income taxMore taxpaying households: Kourou+3.7 pts | 24% | 28% | More taxpaying households: Kourou+3.7 pts |
| Activity rate (ages 15-64)Higher: Kourou+0.4 pt | 66.5% | 66.9% | Higher: Kourou+0.4 pt |
| Unemployment rate (census)Higher: Cayenne+5.0 pts | 29.0% | 24.0% | Higher: Cayenne+5.0 pts |
Sources: DGFiP, income tax, INSEE, census
Local life
Town hall and fiber internet
| Criterion | Cayenne | Kourou | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Sandra Trochimara | Michaël Rimane | |
| Political label of the mayor’s list (2026 local elections) | miscellaneous left | miscellaneous | |
| Premises with fiberBetter covered: Cayenne+4.0 pts | 96% | 92% | Better covered: Cayenne+4.0 pts |
Sources: Ministry of the Interior, register of elected officials, Ministry of the Interior, Arcep
Shops and facilities
Shops, leisure and transportation
| Criterion | Cayenne | Kourou | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shops per 10,000 inhab.More shops per capita: Cayenne+57% | 89.3562 in total | 56.7142 in total | More shops per capita: Cayenne+57% |
| Food shops per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Cayenne+38% | 32.6205 in total | 23.659 in total | More per capita: Cayenne+38% |
| Restaurants per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Cayenne+35% | 51.8326 in total | 38.496 in total | More per capita: Cayenne+35% |
| Sports facilities per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Kourou+81% | 17.5110 in total | 31.679 in total | More per capita: Kourou+81% |
| Cultural venues per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Cayenne3.0 times as high | 2.415 in total | 0.82 in total | More per capita: Cayenne3.0 times as high |
| Hotels per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Kourou+37% | 1.711 in total | 2.46 in total | More per capita: Kourou+37% |
| Passenger train stationsTie | 0 | 0 | Tie |
Number of facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print). Source: INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Health
Health care
| Criterion | Cayenne | Kourou | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year localized potential accessibilityBetter access: Cayenne+35% | 2.6 | 2.0 | Better access: Cayenne+35% |
| General practitioners per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Cayenne+75% | 7.044 in total | 4.010 in total | More per capita: Cayenne+75% |
| Medical specialists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Cayenne11 times as high | 8.755 in total | 0.82 in total | More per capita: Cayenne11 times as high |
| Dentists per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Kourou+26% | 4.428 in total | 5.614 in total | More per capita: Kourou+26% |
| Pharmacies per 10,000 inhab.More per capita: Cayenne+35% | 2.717 in total | 2.05 in total | More per capita: Cayenne+35% |
| HospitalsMore facilities: Cayenne+6 | 9 | 3 | More facilities: Cayenne+6 |
Practitioners and facilities per 10,000 inhabitants (total count in small print); access to doctors includes those in neighboring communes. Sources: Ministry of Health (DREES), APL, INSEE, facilities database (BPE), Ministry of Health (Finess)
Education
Schools and colleges
| Criterion | Cayenne | Kourou | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary schoolsMore schools: Cayenne+17 | 36 | 19 | More schools: Cayenne+17 |
| Middle schoolsMore middle schools: Cayenne+4 | 9 | 5 | More middle schools: Cayenne+4 |
| High schoolsMore high schools: Cayenne+5 | 8 | 3 | More high schools: Cayenne+5 |
| Higher education institutions and programsMore facilities: Cayenne+17 | 19 | 2 | More facilities: Cayenne+17 |
Sources: Ministry of Education, INSEE, facilities database (BPE)
Recorded crime
Offenses recorded by the police
| Criterion | Cayenne | Kourou | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homesHigher rate: Kourou+75% | 9.0 | 15.8 | Higher rate: Kourou+75% |
| Non-violent thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Kourou+9% | 9.2 | 10.0 | Higher rate: Kourou+9% |
| Physical violence outside the family per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Cayenne+28% | 11.1 | 8.7 | Higher rate: Cayenne+28% |
| Vehicle thefts per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Cayenne2.9 times as high | 5.2 | 1.8 | Higher rate: Cayenne2.9 times as high |
| Vandalism and property damage per 1,000 inhab.Higher rate: Cayenne+29% | 7.3 | 5.6 | Higher rate: Cayenne+29% |
Offenses recorded in the commune by the police and gendarmerie, per 1,000 inhabitants (per 1,000 homes for burglaries); this is not the actual crime level. Rates for the latest published year. Source: Ministry of the Interior (SSMSI)
Climate
Temperature, sunshine and rain
| Criterion | Cayenne | Kourou | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperatureWarmer: Kourou+0.9 °C | 26.9°C | 27.8°C | Warmer: Kourou+0.9 °C |
| Sunshine h/year | 2,003 | — | |
| Rainfall mm/yearWetter: Cayenne+38% | 3,488 | 2,523 | Wetter: Cayenne+38% |
| Rainy days days/year at least 1 mmMore rainy days: Cayenne+48 days/year | 220 | 171 | More rainy days: Cayenne+48 days/year |
Climate normals from the reference Météo-France station of each commune. Source: Météo-France, climate normals
Natural hazards
Natural disasters and prevention
| Criterion | Cayenne | Kourou | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural disasters declared since 1982More declarations: Cayenne+4 | 6 | 2 | More declarations: Cayenne+4 |
| Natural hazard prevention plansMore plans: Cayenne+1 | 3 | 2 | More plans: Cayenne+1 |
| Radon potential | Low | Significant |
Sources: Géorisques (GASPAR), IRSN
Land
Area, terrain and administrative areas
| Criterion | Cayenne | Kourou | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area km²Larger: Kourou92 times as high | 23.6 | 2,160 | Larger: Kourou92 times as high |
| Town hall elevationHigher: Cayenne+2 m | 5 m | 3 m | Higher: Cayenne+2 m |
| Coastal communeSame | Yes (sea) | Yes (sea) | Same |
| Density grid (INSEE) | Large urban centre | Intermediate urban centre | |
| DepartmentSame | French Guiana (973) | French Guiana (973) | Same |
| Intercommunality | Communauté d'agglomération du Centre Littoral | Communauté de communes des Savanes | |
| Urban unit | Cayenne | Kourou | |
| Functional area | Cayenne | Kourou |
Sources: IGN, IGN, elevation, Ministry for the Ecological Transition, Loi Littoral, INSEE, density grid, INSEE, COG, INSEE, geographic classifications
Summary
Cayenne vs Kourou at a glance
| Criterion | Cayenne | Kourou |
|---|---|---|
| Population inhab. | 62,951 | 25,026 |
| Change over 10 years | +14.6% | −3.8% |
| Density per km² | 2,667 | 11.6 |
| Median apartment price €/m² | 2,668 | 2,000 |
| Median house price €/m² | 2,559 | 2,400 |
| Apartment rent €/m² | 16.6 | 15.7 |
| Property tax (combined rate) | 70.95% | 78.19% |
| Unemployment rate (census) | 29.0% | 24.0% |
| Premises with fiber | 96% | 92% |
| Access to general practitioners visits/inhab./year | 2.6 | 2.0 |
| Home burglaries per 1,000 homes | 9.0 | 15.8 |
| Average temperature | 26.9°C | 27.8°C |
| Sunshine h/year | 2,003 | — |
| Area km² | 23.6 | 2,160 |
More comparisons
Compare with other towns
FAQ
Cayenne vs Kourou: your questions
Which is the larger city, Cayenne or Kourou?
By population, Cayenne: 62,951 inhabitants versus 25,026 for Kourou (official population figures in force on January 1, 2026). Cayenne is the 92nd largest city in France, Kourou the 370th. By area, Kourou is the larger (2,160 km²).
How far is Cayenne from Kourou?
Cayenne and Kourou are 49 km apart as the crow flies, between the centers of the two communes, in the same department (French Guiana).
Where is real estate more expensive, in Cayenne or Kourou?
To buy an apartment, Cayenne is more expensive: €2,668 per m² (median price), versus €2,000 in Kourou (+33%). Median prices of sales over the last five years (DGFiP, DVF).
Are Cayenne and Kourou in the same department?
Yes: both towns are in French Guiana (973), in the French Guiana region.
Official population figures in force on January 1, 2026. Source: INSEE, official population figures