Significant poverty in the French overseas departments, particularly in French Guiana and Mayotte

In 2017, inhabitants of the overseas departments generally had a lower standard of living than those in metropolitan France and the level of inequality was higher, particularly in French Guiana and, to an even greater extent, Mayotte. Compared to metropolitan France, two to four times more people lived under the income national poverty line in the “old” overseas departments (Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, La Réunion) and this rate increased to five times more in Mayotte. Poverty affects people with no employment or qualifications, young people and single-parent families most of all. Social benefits accounted for household revenue to a much greater degree than in metropolitan France.