Map of Suriname | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: First explored by the Spaniards in the 16th century and then settled by the English in the mid-17th century Suriname became a Dutch colony in 1667. With the abolition of African slavery in 1863 workers were brought in from India and Java. 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 exert control through a succession of nominally civilian administrations until 1987 when international pressure finally forced a democratic election. In 1990 the military overthrew the civilian leadership but a democratically elected government - a four-party coalition - returned to power in 1991. The coalition expanded to eight parties in 2005 and ruled until August 2010 when voters returned former military leader Desire BOUTERSE and his opposition coalition to power.


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Location: Northern South America bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between French Guiana and Guyana

Geographic coordinates: 4 00 N 56 00 W

Map reference

Area
Rank: 92
Land: 156,000 km²
Water: 7,820 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than Georgia

Land boundaries
Border countries: (3) Brazil 593 km; French Guiana 510 km; Guyana 600 km

Coastline: 386 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds

Terrain: mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps

Elevation
Extremes highest point: Juliana Top 1230 m

Natural resources: timber hydropower fish kaolin shrimp bauxite gold and small amounts of nickel copper platinum iron ore

Land use
Permanent crops: 0.04%
Other: 99.6% (2011)

Irrigated land: 511.8 km² (2003)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources: 122 km³ (2011)

Natural hazards: NA

Geography
Note: smallest independent country on South American continent; mostly tropical rain forest; great diversity of flora and fauna that for the most part is increasingly threatened by new development; relatively small population mostly along the coast


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Population: 573,311 (July 2014 est.)
Rank: 171
Growth rate: 1.12% (2014 est.)
Growth rate rank: 110
Below poverty line: 70% (2002 est.)

Nationality
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% 'Maroons' (their African ancestors were brought to the country in the 17th and 18th centuries as slaves and escaped to the interior) 10% Amerindian 2% Chinese 2% white 1% other 2%

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) Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi) Javanese

Religions: Hindu 27.4% Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian) Roman Catholic 22.8% Muslim 19.6% indigenous beliefs 5%

Demographic profile:

Age structure
15-24 years: 17.6% (male 51,322/female 49,313)
25-54 years: 44.1% (male 128,620/female 124,034)
55-64 years: 6.5% (male 18,140/female 19,158)
65 years and over: 5.6% (male 14,041/female 18,442) (2014 est.)

Dependency ratios
Youth dependency ratio: 40.6 %
Elderly dependency ratio: 10.1 %
Potential support ratio: 9.9 (2014 est.)

Median age
Male: 28.3 years
Female: 29 years (2014 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.12% (2014 est.)
Rank: 110

Birth rate: 16.73 births/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 116

Death rate: 6.13 deaths/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 161

Net migration rate: 0.57 migrant(s)/1000 population (2014 est.)
Rank: 68

Population distribution

Urbanization
Rate of urbanization: 1.44% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: PARAMARIBO (capital) 278,000 (2011)

Environment
Current issues: deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of inland waterways by small-scale mining activities
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Rank: 68
Male: 31.5 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 22.41 deaths/1000 live births (2014 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Rank: 144
Male: 69.31 years
Female: 74.18 years (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.01 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Rank: 124

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 45.6% (2006)

Drinking water source:

Current health expenditure

Physicians density: 0.91 physicians/1000 population (2004)

Hospital bed density: 3.1 beds/1000 population (2010)

Sanitation facility access:

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 1.1% (2012 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 42
People living with hivaids: 4,000 (2012 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 126
Deaths: 100 (2012 est.)
Deaths rank: 150

Major infectious diseases
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea hepatitis A and typhoid fever
Vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria (2013)

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 25.1% (2008)
Rank: 60

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 5.8% (2010)
Rank: 83

Education expenditures: NA

Literacy
Total population: 94.7%
Male: 95.4%
Female: 94% (2010 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Male: 11 years
Female: 13 years (2002)

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional short form: Suriname
Local long form: Republiek Suriname
Local short form: Suriname
Former: Netherlands Guiana Dutch Guiana

Government type: constitutional democracy

Capital
Geographic coordinates: 5 50 N 55 10 W
Time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions: 10 districts (distrikten singular - distrikt); Brokopondo Commewijne Coronie Marowijne Nickerie Para Paramaribo Saramacca Sipaliwini Wanica

Dependent areas

Independence: 25 November 1975 (from the Netherlands)

National holiday: Independence Day 25 November (1975)

Constitution: previous 1975; latest ratified 30 September 1987 effective 30 October 1987; amended 1992; note - in 2012 the president appointed a commission to revise the constitution (2012)

Legal system: civil law system influenced by Dutch civil law; note - the Commissie Nieuw Surinaamse Burgerlijk Wetboek completed drafting a new civil code in February 2009

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Head of government: President Desire Delano BOUTERSE (since 12 August 2010); Vice President Robert AMEERALI (since 12 August 2010)
Cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
Elections: president and vice president elected by the National Assembly or if no presidential or vice presidential candidate receives a two-thirds constitutional majority in the National Assembly after two votes by a simple majority in the larger United People's Assembly (893 representatives from the national local and regional councils) for five-year terms (no term limits); election last held on 19 July 2010 (next to be held in 2015)
Election results: Desire Delano BOUTERSE elected president; percent of vote - Desire Delano BOUTERSE 70.6% Chandrikapersad SATOKHI 25.5% other 3.9%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Nationale Assemblee (51 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
Elections: last held on 25 May 2010 (next to be held in May 2015)
Election results: percent of vote by party - Mega Combination 45.1% New Front 27.5% A-Com 13.7% People's Alliance 11.8% DOE 1.9%; seats by party - Mega Combination 23 New Front 14 A-Com 7 People's Alliance 6 DOE 1

Judicial branch: note - Suriname can appeal beyond its High Court to the Caribbean Court of Justice with final appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
Judge selection and term of office: court judges appointed by the national president after consultation with the High Court; judges appointed for life
Subordinate courts: cantonal courts

Political parties and leaders:

International organization participation: ACP AOSIS Caricom CD CELAC FAO G-77 IADB IBRD ICAO ICRM IDA IDB IFAD IFRCS IHO ILO IMF IMO Interpol IOC IPU ISO (correspondent) ITU ITUC (NGOs) LAES MIGA NAM OAS OIC OPANAL OPCW PCA Petrocaribe UN UNASUR UNCTAD UNESCO UNIDO UPU WHO WIPO WMO WTO

Diplomatic representation
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 consulate general: Miami
From the us embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129 Paramaribo
From the us mailing address: US Department of State PO Box 1821 Paramaribo
From the us telephone: [597] 472-900
From the us FAX: [597] 410-972

Flag description: five horizontal bands of green (top double width) white red (quadruple width) white and green (double width); a large yellow five-pointed star is centered in the red band; red stands for progress and love; green symbolizes hope and fertility; white signifies peace justice and freedom; the star represents the unity of all ethnic groups; from its yellow light the nation draws strength to bear sacrifices patiently while working toward a golden future

National symbols

National anthem
Lyrics and music: Cornelis Atses HOEKSTRA and Henry DE ZIEL/Johannes Corstianus DE PUY

National heritage


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Economy overview: The economy is dominated by the mining industry with exports of alumina gold and oil accounting for about 85% of exports and 25% of government revenues making the economy highly vulnerable to mineral price volatility. Economic growth has remained at about 4-5% per year in 2010-13 but the government's budget was strained by high inflation in 2010. In January 2011 the government devalued the currency by 20% and raised taxes to reduce the budget deficit. As a result of these measures inflation has receded to about 4% in 2013. Suriname's economic prospects for the medium term will depend on continued commitment to responsible monetary and fiscal policies and to the introduction of structural reforms to liberalize markets and promote competition. The government's reliance on revenue from extractive industries will temper Suriname's economic outlook especially if gold prices continue their downward trend.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 161

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 62

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 101

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Government consumption: 9.9%
Investment in fixed capital: 5%
Investment in inventories: 19.7%
Exports of goods and services: 43.2%
Imports of goods and services: -51.6%: (2013 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Industry: 36.6%
Services: 54.5% (2013 est.)

Agriculture products: rice bananas palm kernels coconuts plantains peanuts; beef chickens; shrimp; forest products

Industries: bauxite and gold mining alumina production; oil lumbering food processing fishing

Industrial production growth rate: 4% (2013 est.)
Rank: 74

Labor force: 165,600 (2007)
Rank: 176
By occupation industry: 14%
By occupation services: 78% (2004)

Unemployment rate: 12.1% (2006)
Rank: 100

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 70% (2002 est.)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Highest 10: NA%

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Expenditures: $939.7 million (2010 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -2.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 96

Taxes and other revenues: 16.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
Rank: 186

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 5% (2012 est.)
Rank: 141

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 11.73% (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 68

Stock of narrow money: $1.075 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 147

Stock of broad money: $2.463 million (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 193

Stock of domestic credit: $1.275 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 154

Market value of publicly traded shares: $N/A

Current account balance: $241.4 million (2012 est.)
Rank: 58

Exports: $2.564 billion (2012 est.)
Rank: 136
Commodities: alumina gold crude oil lumber shrimp and fish rice bananas
Partners: US 25.7% Belgium 17.4% UAE 11.5% Canada 10.3% Guyana 5.8% France 5.5% Barbados 4.2% (2012)

Imports: $1.761 billion (2012 est.)
Rank: 167
Commodities: capital equipment petroleum foodstuffs cotton consumer goods
Partners: US 26% Netherlands 16% China 9.9% UAE 8.1% Antigua and Barbuda 6.7% Netherlands Antilles 4.9% Japan 4.3% (2012)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $816.9 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Rank: 134

Debt external: $810.8 million (31 December 2012 est.)
Rank: 164

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Production: 1.57 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Production rank: 141
Consumption: 1.423 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 147
Exports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Exports rank: 179
Imports: 0 kWh (2012 est.)
Imports rank: 181
Installed generating capacity: 410,000 kW (2010 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 146
Generation sources fossil fuels: 53.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 145
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 155
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 46.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 48
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 109

Coal

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 15,270 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 82
Crude oil exports: 7,621 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 61
Crude oil imports: 0.66 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 82
Crude oil proven reserves: 76.8 million bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 76

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 7,462 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products production rank: 105
Products consumption: 14,100 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Products consumption rank: 146
Products exports: 1015 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products exports rank: 105
Products imports: 6,454 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products imports rank: 139

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Production rank: 177
Consumption: 0 m³ (2010 est.)
Consumption rank: 182
Exports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Exports rank: 159
Imports: 0 m³ (2011 est.)
Imports rank: 109
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2011 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 180

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 2.335 million Mt (2011 est.)

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 83,000 (2012)
Main lines in use rank: 149
Mobile cellular: 977,000 (2012)
Mobile cellular rank: 158

Telephone system
Domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity 185 telephones per 100 persons; microwave radio relay network
International: country code - 597; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2010)

Broadcast media: 2 state-owned TV stations; 1 state-owned radio station; multiple private radio and TV stations (2007)

Internet
Country code: .sr
Hosts: 188 (2012)
Hosts rank: 201
Users: 163,000 (2009)
Users rank: 146

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation: 18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription; personnel drawn almost exclusively from the Creole community (2012)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 55 (2013)
Rank: 85
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 5 (2013)
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 4
With unpaved runways: 45 (2013)

Heliports

Pipelines: oil 50 km (2013)

Railways

Roadways
Rank: 154
Paved: 1130 km
Unpaved: 3,174 km (2003)

Waterways: 1200 km (most navigable by ships with drafts up to 7 m) (2011)
Rank: 61

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: area claimed by French Guiana between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa); Suriname claims a triangle of land between the New and Kutari/Koetari rivers in a historic dispute over the headwaters of the Courantyne; Guyana seeks United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea arbitration to resolve the longstanding dispute with Suriname over the axis of the territorial sea boundary in potentially oil-rich waters

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: growing transshipment point for South American drugs destined for Europe via the Netherlands and Brazil; transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing