Statistics Suriname 
Suriname in the World
Suriname - Introduction 2016
top of pageBackground: 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. The Netherlands granted the colony independence 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. President BOUTERSE was reelected unopposed in 2015.
Area
Total: 163,820 km²
Land: 156,000 km²
Water: 7,820 km²
Rank: 92
Comparative: slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries
Total: 1907 km
Border countries: (3) Brazil 515 km; French Guiana 556 km; Guyana 836 km
Elevation
Mean elevation: 246 m
Elevation extremes: lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m: 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
Agricultural land: 0.5%
arable land: 0.4%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pasture: 0.1%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pasture: 0.1%
Forest: 94.6%
Other: 4.9%
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
Suriname - People 2016
top of pagePopulation
Distribution: population concentrated along the nothern coastal strip; the remainder of the country is sparsely populated: 585,824 (July 2016 est.)
Rank: 172
Growth rate: 1.05% (2016 est.)
Growth rate rank: 111
Below poverty line: 70% (2002 est.)
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:
Suriname is a pluralistic society consisting primarily of Creoles (persons of mixed African and European heritage) the descendants of escaped African slaves known as Maroons and the descendants of Indian and Javanese contract workers. The country overall is in full post-industrial demographic transition with a low fertility rate a moderate mortality rate and a rising life expectancy. However the Maroon population of the rural interior lags behind because of lower educational attainment and contraceptive use higher malnutrition and significantly less access to electricity potable water sanitation infrastructure and health care.
Some 350,000 people of Surinamese descent live in the Netherlands Suriname's former colonial ruler. In the 19th century better-educated largely Dutch-speaking Surinamese began emigrating to the Netherlands. World War II interrupted the outflow but it resumed after the war when Dutch labor demands grew - emigrants included all segments of the Creole population. Suriname still is strongly influenced by the Netherlands because most Surinamese have relatives living there and it is the largest supplier of development aid. Other emigration destinations include French Guiana and the United States. Suriname's immigration rules are flexible and the country is easy to enter illegally because rainforests obscure its borders. Since the mid-1980s Brazilians have settled in Suriname's capital Paramaribo or eastern Suriname where they mine gold. This immigration is likely to slowly re-orient Suriname toward its Latin American roots.
Some 350,000 people of Surinamese descent live in the Netherlands Suriname's former colonial ruler. In the 19th century better-educated largely Dutch-speaking Surinamese began emigrating to the Netherlands. World War II interrupted the outflow but it resumed after the war when Dutch labor demands grew - emigrants included all segments of the Creole population. Suriname still is strongly influenced by the Netherlands because most Surinamese have relatives living there and it is the largest supplier of development aid. Other emigration destinations include French Guiana and the United States. Suriname's immigration rules are flexible and the country is easy to enter illegally because rainforests obscure its borders. Since the mid-1980s Brazilians have settled in Suriname's capital Paramaribo or eastern Suriname where they mine gold. This immigration is likely to slowly re-orient Suriname toward its Latin American roots.
Age structure
0-14 years: 25.15%
15-24 years: 17.46%
25-54 years: 44.36%
55-64 years: 7.16%
65 years and over: 5.86% (2016 est.)
Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 50.8%
Youth dependency ratio: 40.4%
Elderly dependency ratio: 10.4%
Potential support ratio: 9.6%
Population distribution: population concentrated along the nothern coastal strip; the remainder of the country is sparsely populated
Urbanization
Urban population: 66% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 0.78% annual rate of change
Environment
Current issues: deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of inland waterways by small-scale mining activities
International agreements party to: Biodiversity Climate Change Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Desertification Endangered Species Law of the Sea Marine Dumping Ozone Layer Protection Ship Pollution Tropical Timber 94 Wetlands Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male/female
15-24 years: 1.04 male/female
25-54 years: 1.04 male/female
55-64 years: 0.96 male/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male/female
Total population: 1.01 male/female
Infant mortality rate
Total: 25.3 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 29.5 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 20.9 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 69
Drinking water source:
urban: 98.1% of population
rural: 88.4% of population
total: 94.8% of population
urban: 1.9% of population
rural: 11.6% of population
total: 5.2% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 88.4% of population
total: 94.8% of population
urban: 1.9% of population
rural: 11.6% of population
total: 5.2% of population (2015 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
urban: 88.4% of population
rural: 61.4% of population
total: 79.2% of population
urban: 11.6% of population
rural: 38.6% of population
total: 20.8% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 61.4% of population
total: 79.2% of population
urban: 11.6% of population
rural: 38.6% of population
total: 20.8% of population (2015 est.)
Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 1.08% (2015 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 47
People living with hivaids: 3,800 (2015 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 110
Deaths: 100 (2015 est.)
Deaths rank: 100
Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: very high
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea hepatitis A and typhoid fever
Vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria
Note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country ; it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex via blood transfusion or during pregnancy in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)
Suriname - Government 2016
top of pageCountry name
Conventional long form: Republic of Suriname
Conventional short form: Suriname
Local long form: Republiek Suriname
Local short form: Suriname
Former: Netherlands Guiana Dutch Guiana
Etymology: name may derive from the indigenous 'Surinen' people who inhabited the area at the time of European contact
Administrative divisions: 10 districts (distrikten singular - distrikt); Brokopondo Commewijne Coronie Marowijne Nickerie Para Paramaribo Saramacca Sipaliwini Wanica
Constitution: previous 1975; latest ratified 30 September 1987 effective 30 October 1987; amended 1992 (2016)
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
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Suriname
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Executive branch
Chief of state: President Desire Delano BOUTERSE ; Vice President Ashwin ADHIN (since 12 August 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Desire Delano BOUTERSE ; Vice President Ashwin ADHIN (since 12 August 2015)
Cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
Electionsappointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly; president and vice president serve a 5-year term ; election last held on 25 May 2015 (next to be held on 25 May 2020)
Election results: Desire Delano BOUTERSE reelected president; National Assembly vote - NA
Legislative branch
Description: unicameral National Assembly or Nationale Assemblee
Elections: last held on 25 May 2015
Election results: percent of vote by party - NDP 45.5% V7 37.2% A-Com 10.5% DOE 4.3% PALU .7% other 1.7%; seats by party - NDP 26 V7 18 A-Com 5 DOE 1 PALU 1
Judicial branch
Highest resident court: High Court of Justice of Suriname ; note - appeals beyond the High Court are referred 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:
Party for National Unity and Solidarity or KTPI [Willy SOEMITA]
People's Alliance Pertjaja Luhur or PL [Paul SOMOHARDJO]
Progressive Worker and Farmer's Union or PALU [Jim HOK]
Surinamese Labor Party or SPA [Guno CASTELEN]
United Reform Party or VHP [Chandrikapersad SANTOKHI]
Victory 7 or V7 (formerly the New Front for Democracy and Development or NF) (a coalition including NPS VHP DA91 PL SPA) [Chandrikapresad SANTOKHI]
People's Alliance Pertjaja Luhur or PL [Paul SOMOHARDJO]
Progressive Worker and Farmer's Union or PALU [Jim HOK]
Surinamese Labor Party or SPA [Guno CASTELEN]
United Reform Party or VHP [Chandrikapersad SANTOKHI]
Victory 7 or V7 (formerly the New Front for Democracy and Development or NF) (a coalition including NPS VHP DA91 PL SPA) [Chandrikapresad SANTOKHI]
International organization participation: ACP AOSIS Caricom CD CDB CELAC FAO G-77 IADB IBRD ICAO ICCt ICRM IDA IDB IFAD IFC IFRCS IHO ILO IMF IMO Interpol IOC IOM 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 chief of mission: Ambassador ; Charge d'Affaires Sylvana Elvira SIMSON (since 1 September 2015)
In the us chancery: Suite 460 4,301 Connecticut Avenue NW Washington DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] 244-7,488
In the us FAX: [1] 244-5,878
In the us consulate general: Miami
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Jay N. ANANIA
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 anthem
Name: 'God zij met ons Suriname!'
Lyrics and music: Cornelis Atses HOEKSTRA and Henry DE ZIEL/Johannes Corstianus DE PUY
Note: adopted 1959; originally adapted from a Sunday school song written in 1893 and contains lyrics in both Dutch and Sranang Tongo
Suriname - Economy 2016
top of pageEconomy overview:
The economy is dominated by the mining industry with exports of oil gold and alumina accounting for about 85% of exports and 27% of government revenues making the economy highly vulnerable to mineral price volatility.
Economic growth has declined annually from just under 5% in 2012 to 1.5% in 2015. 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 receded to less than 4% in 2015.
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.
Economic growth has declined annually from just under 5% in 2012 to 1.5% in 2015. 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 receded to less than 4% in 2015.
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:
$9.09 billion (2015 est.)
$9.077 billion (2014 est.)
$8.913 billion (2013 est.)
$9.077 billion (2014 est.)
$8.913 billion (2013 est.)
Note: data are in 2015 US dollars
Rank: 160
Real gdp per capita:
$16,300 (2015 est.)
$16,200 (2014 est.)
$16,200 (2013 est.)
$16,200 (2014 est.)
$16,200 (2013 est.)
Note: data are in 2015 US dollars
Rank: 100
Gross national saving:
24.2% of GDP (2015 est.)
24.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
25.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
24.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
25.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
Rank: 1
Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 75.8%
Government consumption: 11.5%
Investment in fixed capital: 12%
Investment in inventories: 26.5%
Exports of goods and services: 25.6%
Imports of goods and services: -24.9%
Agriculture products: rice bananas palm kernels coconuts plantains peanuts; beef chickens; shrimp; forest products
Labor force: 165,600 (2007 est.)
Rank: 176
By occupation agriculture: 11.2%
By occupation industry: 19.5%
By occupation services: 69.3%
Budget
Revenues: $878 million
Expenditures: $1.259 billion
Surplus or deficit: -7.3% of GDP (2015 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 194
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
12.62% (31 December 2015 est.)
12.28% (31 December 2014 est.)
12.28% (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 62
Stock of narrow money:
$1.231 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$1.409 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$1.409 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 142
Stock of broad money:
$3.461 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$2.885 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$2.885 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 143
Stock of domestic credit:
$2.224 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$2.029 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$2.029 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 138
Exports:
$1.666 billion (2015 est.)
$2.149 billion (2014 est.)
$2.149 billion (2014 est.)
Rank: 140
Commodities: alumina gold crude oil lumber shrimp and fish rice bananas
Partners: Switzerland 21.8% UAE 14.5% India 13.9% Belgium 9.7% US 8.9% France 8.1% Canada 6.6% (2015)
Imports:
$1.973 billion (2015 est.)
$1.966 billion (2014 est.)
$1.966 billion (2014 est.)
Rank: 163
Commodities: capital equipment petroleum foodstuffs cotton consumer goods
Partners: US 26.8% Netherlands 14.3% China 12.2% Trinidad and Tobago 7.4% Japan 4.8% (2015)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$330.2 million (31 December 2015 est.)
$625.2 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$625.2 million (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 155
Exchange rates:
Surinamese dollars (SRD) per US dollar -
3.4167 (2015 est.)
3.3 (2014 est.)
3.3 (2013 est.)
3.3 (2012 est.)
3.2683 (2011 est.)
3.4167 (2015 est.)
3.3 (2014 est.)
3.3 (2013 est.)
3.3 (2012 est.)
3.2683 (2011 est.)
Suriname - Energy 2016
top of pageElectricity
Access electrification total population: 100%
Production: 2.1 billion kWh (2014 est.)
Production rank: 144
Consumption: 1.9 billion kWh (2014 est.)
Consumption rank: 146
Exports: 0 kWh (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 180
Imports: 0 kWh (2013 est.)
Imports rank: 185
Installed generating capacity: 400,000 kW (2014 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 145
Generation sources fossil fuels: 54.1% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 144
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 158
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 45.9% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 53
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 210
Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 17,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 77
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 172
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 111
Crude oil proven reserves: 88.97 million bbl (1 January 2016 es)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 73
Refined petroleum
Products production: 19,120 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Products production rank: 98
Products consumption: 17,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)
Products consumption rank: 137
Products exports: 12,980 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Products exports rank: 89
Products imports: 10,260 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Products imports rank: 137
Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Production rank: 114
Consumption: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Consumption rank: 182
Exports: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 158
Imports: 0 m³ (2013 est.)
Imports rank: 114
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2011 es)
Proven reserves rank: 181
Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 2.4 million Mt (2013 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 148
Suriname - Communication 2016
top of pageTelephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 85,000
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15
Fixed lines rank: 147
Mobile cellular total: 991,000
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 171
Mobile cellular rank: 159
Telephone system
General assessment: international facilities are good
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 (2015)
Broadcast media: 2 state-owned TV stations; 1 state-owned radio station; multiple private radio and TV stations (2007)
Suriname - Military 2016
top of pageMilitary 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)
Suriname - Transportation 2016
top of pageNational air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 2
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 5
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 259,682
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 29,324,319 mt-km
Airports: 55 (2013)
Rank: 85
With paved runways total: 6
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 5
With unpaved runways total: 49
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 4
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 45
Suriname - Transnational issues 2016
top of pageDisputes 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 UN 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
Illicit drugs: growing transshipment point for South American drugs destined for Europe via the Netherlands and Brazil; transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing
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