The Wayana are a Carib-speaking people located in the south-eastern part of the Guiana highlands, a region divided between Brazil

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

, Surinam, and French Guiana

French Guiana

French Guiana is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department located on the northern Atlantic coast of South America. It has borders with two nations, Brazil to the east and south, and Suriname to the west...

. In 1980, when the last census took place, the Wayana numbered some 1,500 individuals, of which 150 in Brazil

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

, among the Apalai

Apalai

The Aparai or Apalai are an indigenous people of Brazil, who live in Amapá and Pará states. They were sedentary slash and burn farmers, necessitating periodic relocation as soil became exhausted, but also hunters and gatherers...

, 400 in Surinam, and 1,000 in French Guiana

French Guiana

French Guiana is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department located on the northern Atlantic coast of South America. It has borders with two nations, Brazil to the east and south, and Suriname to the west...

, along the Maroni River

Maroni River

The Maroni or Marowijne is a river in South America. It originates in the Tumuk Humak Mountains and forms the border between French Guiana and Suriname...

. About half of them still spoke their original language.