Grand-Santi
Grand-Santi | |
|---|---|
 Church of Grand-Santi | |
 Location of the commune (in red) within French Guiana | |
 Location of Grand-Santi | |
| Coordinates: 4°16′26″N 54°22′58″W / 4.2739°N 54.3828°W | |
| Country | France |
| Overseas region and department | French Guiana |
| Arrondissement | Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni |
| Intercommunality | Ouest Guyanais |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2020–2026) | Felix Dada[1] |
Area 1 | 2,112 km2 (815 sq mi) |
| Population (2023)[2] | 9,668 |
| • Density | 4.578/km2 (11.86/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−03:00 |
| INSEE/Postal code | 97357 /97340 |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
Grand-Santi (French pronunciation: [ɡʁɑ̃ sɑ̃ti]; French Guianese Creole: Gransanti) is a commune of French Guiana, an overseas region and department of France in South America. It is located in the arrondissement of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni and is accessible only by boat or air. Originally part of the larger commune of Grand-Santi-Papaichton, it assumed its current name in 1993 following the separation of Papaichton as an independent commune. The population is composed mainly of Ndyuka people and Surinamese refugees, and the local economy is based primarily on small-scale agriculture and fishing.
History
[edit]The commune was originally called Grand-Santi-Papaichton and included the now independent communes of Apatou and Papaichton. On 12 November 1976 Apatou was detached from Grand-Santi-Papaichton and became an independent commune. On 1 January 1993 Papaichton was also detached from Grand-Saint-Papaichton and became an independent commune.[3] On that occasion, the name of the commune was shortened into Grand-Santi.[4] The commune mainly lives from small-scale agriculture, such as rice and cassava, and fishing.[5] The commune also contains other villages like Belikampoe.[6]
Demographics
[edit]The population of Grand-Santi has experienced significant population growth since the late 20th century, despite a brief fluctuation in the early years of recording. As detailed in the historical census data below, the commune's population stood at 723 inhabitants in 1968, rose to 1,041 in 1975, and then experienced a temporary decline to 754 residents in 1982. Following this period, the population entered a trajectory of rapid and continuous expansion, more than doubling by 1990 and reaching 2,862 by 1999. This upward trend accelerated into the 21st century, with the population nearly doubling again between 2007 and 2012, and ultimately rising to 9,668 inhabitants by 2023.[7] This recent growth is reflected in an annual population growth rate of 4.18% measured between 2015 and 2023.[8]
Administratively situated within the arrondissement of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, Grand-Santi accounts for 9.5% of the total population of the arrondissement. The commune encompasses an area of 2,112 square kilometers, which represents 5.16% of the arrondissement's total land area. Based on the 2023 population estimate and area, the population density of Grand-Santi stands at 4.578 inhabitants per square kilometer.[8]
Most of the inhabitants are Ndyuka people, as well as Surinamese refugees.[4]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 723 | — |
| 1974 | 1,041 | +5.35% |
| 1982 | 754 | −3.95% |
| 1990 | 1,786 | +11.38% |
| 1999 | 2,862 | +5.38% |
| 2007 | 3,427 | +2.28% |
| 2012 | 6,029 | +11.96% |
| 2017 | 7,918 | +5.60% |
| 2023 | 9,668 | +3.38% |
| Source: INSEE[7] | ||
Transport
[edit]
The commune can only be reached by boat or airplane.[4] The Grand-Santi Airport is located 1 km (0.54 NM) northeast of Grand-Santi.[9]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 4 May 2022.
- ↑ "Populations de référence 2023" (in French). National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 18 December 2025.
- ↑ "Parcours La Source" [The Source Trail]. Parc-Amazonien-Guyane (in French). Archived from the original on 31 December 2022.
- 1 2 3 "Informations générales du Grand-Santi" [General Information about Grand-Santi]. Petit Futé (in French). Retrieved 8 June 2020.
- ↑ "Grand-Santi: visite de Grand-Santi" [Grand-Santi: visit to Grand-Santi]. Americas-fr (in French). Archived from the original on 15 July 2021.
- ↑ "Carbets de Belikampoe". Guyane Amazonie (in French). Archived from the original on 3 June 2021.
- 1 2 "Populations de référence 2023 Commune de Grand-Santi (97357)" [Reference Populations 2023 Municipality of Grand-Santi (97357)] (in French). INSEE. 29 December 2025. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- 1 2 "French Guiana (French Overseas Department)". CityPopulation.de. 13 January 2026. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ SOGS – GRAND SANTI. AIP from French Service d'information aéronautique, effective 6 August 2026.
External links
[edit]- Official site (in French)
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