Statistical information Suriname 1999

Suriname in the World
top of pageBackground: Independence from the Netherlands was granted in 1975. Five years later the civilian government was replaced by a military regime that soon declared a socialist republic. It continued to rule through a succession of nominally civilian administrations until 1987 when international pressure finally brought about a democratic election.
top of pageLocation: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana
Geographic coordinates: 4 00 N, 56 00 W
Map reference:
South AmericaAreaTotal: 163,270 km²
Land: 161,470 km²
Water: 1,800 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundariesTotal: 1,707 km
Border countries: (3) Brazil 597 km;
, French Guiana 510 km;
, Guyana 600 kmCoastline: 386 km
Maritime claimsExclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds
Terrain: mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps
ElevationExtremes lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m
Extremes highest point: Wilhelmina Gebergte 1,286 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore
Land useArable land: NA%
Permanent crops: NA%
Permanent pastures: 0%
Forests and woodland: 96%
Other: 4% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 600 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: NA
GeographyNote: mostly tropical rain forest; great diversity of flora and fauna that, for the most part, is increasingly threatened by new development; relatively small population, most of which lives along the coast
top of pagePopulation: 431,156 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 0.71% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%
NationalityNoun: Surinamer(s)
Adjective: Surinamese
Ethnic groups: Hindustani (also known locally as "East Indians"; their ancestors emigrated from northern India in the latter part of the 19th century) 37%, Creole (mixed white and black) 31%, Javanese 15.3%, "Maroons" (their African ancestors were brought to the country in the 17th and 18th centuries as slaves and escaped to the interior) 10.3%, Amerindian 2.6%, Chinese 1.7%, white 1%, other 1.1%
Languages: Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang Tongo (Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is native language of Creoles and much of the younger population and is lingua franca among others), Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese
Religions: Hindu 27.4%, Muslim 19.6%, Roman Catholic 22.8%, Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian), indigenous beliefs 5%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 33% (male 72,673; female 69,212)
15-64 years: 62% (male 135,573; female 130,700)
65 years and over: 5% (male 10,585; female 12,413) (1999 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 0.71% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 21.75 births/1000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 5.75 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -8.92 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of inland waterways by small-scale mining activities
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 26.52 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 70.89 years
Male: 68.32 years
Female: 73.59 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.55 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 93%
Male: 95%
Female: 91% (1995 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Republic of Suriname
Conventional short form: Suriname
Local long form: Republiek Suriname
Local short form: Suriname
Former: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana
Government type: republic
Capital: Paramaribo
Administrative divisions: 10 districts (distrikten, singular_distrikt; Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica
Dependent areasIndependence: 25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 November (1975)
Constitution: ratified 30 September 1987
Legal system: based on Dutch legal system incorporating French penal theory
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: President Jules WIJDENBOSCH (since 14 September 1996); Vice President Pretaapnarian RADHAKISHUN (since 14 September 1996); note_the president is both the chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Jules WIJDENBOSCH (since 14 September 1996); Vice President Pretaapnarian RADHAKISHUN (since 14 September 1996); note_the president is both the chief of state and head of government
Cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly
Note: First Advisor of State maintains significant power
Elections: president and vice president elected by the National Assembly or, if no presidential or vice presidential candidate receives a constitutional majority vote in the National Assembly after two votes, by the larger People's Assembly (869 representatives from the national, local, and regional councils), for five-year terms; election last held 23 May 1996; runoff election held 5 September 1996 (next to be held NA May 2001)
Election results: Jules WIJDENBOSCH elected president; percent of legislative vote_NA; National Assembly failed to elect president; results reflect votes cast by the People's Assembly_Jules WIJDENBOSCH (NDP) received 438 votes, Ronald VENETIAAN (NF) received 407 votes
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or National Assemblee (51 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
Elections: last held 23 May 1996 (next to be held NA May 2001)
Election results: percent of vote by party_NA; seats by party_NDP 16, NF 14, BVD 5, KTPI 5, Pertjaja Luhur 4, The Progressive Development Alliance 3, DA '91 2, OPDA 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (justices nominated for life)
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ACP, Caricom, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Arnold Theodoor HALFHIDE
In the us chancery: Suite 460, 4,301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 244-7,488
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 244-5,878
In the us consulates general: Miami
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis K. HAYS
From the us embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 1821, American Embassy Paramaribo, Department of State, Washington, DC, 20,521-3,390
From the us telephone: [597] 472,900, 477,881, 476,459
From the us FAX: [597] 420,800
Flag description
: five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red (quadruple width), white, and green (double width; there is a large, yellow, five-pointed star centered in the red band
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: The economy is dominated by the bauxite industry, which accounts for more than 15% of GDP and 70% of export earnings. After assuming power in the fall of 1996, the WIJDENBOSCH government ended the structural adjustment program of the previous government, claiming it was unfair to the poorer elements of society. Tax revenues fell as old taxes lapsed and the government failed to implement new tax alternatives. By the end of 1997, the allocation of new Dutch development funds was frozen as Surinamese Government relations with the Netherlands deteriorated. Economic growth slowed in 1998, with decline in the mining, construction, and utility sectors. Suriname's economic prospects for the medium term will depend on renewed commitment to responsible monetary and fiscal policies and to the introduction of structural reforms to liberalize markets and promote competition.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 2% (1998 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $3,500 (1998 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 10%
Industry: 32%
Services: 58% (1996)
Agriculture products: paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts; beef, chickens; forest products; shrimp
Industries: bauxite and gold mining, alumina and aluminum production, lumbering, food processing, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: 6.5% (1994 est.)
Labor force: NA
By occupation agriculture: NA%
By occupation industry: NA%
By occupation services: NA%
Unemployment rate: 20% (1997)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: NA%
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $393 million
Expenditures: $403 million, including capital expenditures of $34 million (1997 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $548.84 million (1997)
Commodities: alumina, aluminum, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas
Partners: Norway 24%, Netherlands 22%, US 22%, France 9.5%, Japan 7.6%, UK 6.5% (1997)
Imports: $551.8 million (1997)
Commodities: capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods
Partners: US 48%, Netherlands 21.2%, UK 5.1%, Japan 4% (1997)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $216 million (1996 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Surinamese guilders, gulden, or florins (Sf.) per US$1_850 (January 1999); central bank midpoint rate:401.00 (1998), 401.00 (1997), 401.26 (1996), 442.23 (1995), 134.12 (1994); parallel rate:800 (December 1998), 412 (December 1995), 510 (December 1994)
Note: beginning July 1994, the central bank midpoint exchange rate was unified and became market determined; during 1998, the exchange rate splintered into four distinct rates; in January 1999 the government floated the guilder
top of pageElectricityProduction: 1.62 billion kWh (1996)
Production by source fossil fuel: 19.75%
Production by source hydro: 80.25%
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Production by source other: 0% (1996)
Consumption: 1.62 billion kWh (1996)
Exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Imports: 0 kWh (1996)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 43,522 (1992 est.)
Telephone system: international facilities good
Domestic: microwave radio relay network
International: satellite earth stations_2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $8.5 million (1997 est.)
Percent of gdp: 1.6% (1997 est.)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 46 (1998 est.)
With paved runways total: 5
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 41
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 7
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 34 (1998 est.)
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysTotal: 166 km (single track)
Standard gauge: 80 km 1.435-m gauge
Narrow gauge: 86 km 1.000-m gauge
RoadwaysWaterways: 1,200 km; most important means of transport; oceangoing vessels with drafts ranging up to 7 m can navigate many of the principal waterways
Merchant marinePorts and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: claims area in French Guiana between Litani Rivier and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa Rivier; claims area in Guyana between New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Koetari [Kutari] Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne)
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined mostly for Europe