Suriname

• smallest independent country on the South American continent;
• mostly tropical rainforest;
• great diversity of flora and fauna;
• relatively small population, mostly along the coast

noun:

Surinamer(s)

adjective:

Surinamese

total:

32.3 years (2025 est.)

male:

31 years

female:

32.9 years

at birth:

1.07 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.03 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.7 male(s)/female

total population:

0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

total:

29.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male:

37.6 deaths/1,000 live births

female:

21 deaths/1,000 live births

total population:

72.7 years (2024 est.)

male:

69 years

female:

76.7 years

total:

6.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer:

3.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine:

0.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits:

2.87 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols:

0.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

women married by age 15:

8.8% (2018)

women married by age 18:

36% (2018)

men married by age 18:

19.6% (2018)

urban population:

66.4% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization:

0.88% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually:

78,600 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled:

16.9% (2022 est.)

municipal:

49.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial:

135.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

agricultural:

431.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

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 Surinen people who inhabited the area at the time of European contact

name:

Paramaribo

geographic coordinates:

5 50 N, 55 10 W

time difference:

UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology:

the name comes from the Guaraní words para (water or river) and maribo (inhabitants)

history:

previous 1975; latest ratified 30 September 1987, effective 30 October 1987

amendment process:

proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership

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

legislature name:

National Assembly (Nationale Assemblee)

legislative structure:

unicameral

number of seats:

51 (all directly elected)

electoral system:

proportional representation

scope of elections:

full renewal

term in office:

5 years

most recent election date:

5/25/2025

parties elected and seats per party:

• National Democratic Party (NDP) (18);
• Progressive Reform Party (VHP) (17);
• National Party of Suriname (NPS) (6);
• General Liberation and Development Party (ABOP) (6);
• Other (4)

percentage of women in chamber:

31.4%

expected date of next election:

May 2030

• Brotherhood and Unity in Politics or BEP
• Democratic Alternative '91 or DA91
• General Liberation and Development Party or ABOP
• National Democratic Party or NDP
• National Party of Suriname or NPS
• Party for Democracy and Development in Unity or DOE
• Party for National Unity and Solidarity or KTPI
• People's Alliance (Pertjajah Luhur) or PL
• Progressive Workers' and Farmers' Union or PALU
• Progressive Reform Party or VHP
• Reform and Renewal Movement or HVB
• Surinamese Labor Party or SPA

chief of mission:

Ambassador Jan Marten Willem SCHALKWIJK (since 19 April 2022)

chancery:

4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 629-4302

FAX:

[1] (202) 629-4769

email address and website:

[email protected]; https://surinameembassy.org/index.html

consulate(s) general:

Miami

chief of mission:

Ambassador Robert J. FAUCHER (since 31 January 2023)

embassy:

165 Kristalstraat, Paramaribo

mailing address:

3390 Paramaribo Place, Washington DC 20521-3390

telephone:

[597] 556-700

FAX:

[597] 551-524

email address and website:

[email protected]; https://sr.usembassy.gov/

description:

• five horizontal bands of green (top, double-width), white, red (quadruple-width), white, and green (double-width);
• a five-pointed yellow star is centered on the red band

meaning:

red stands for progress and love, green for hope and fertility, and white for peace, justice, and freedom; the star represents the unity of ethnic groups

title:

"God zij met ons Suriname!" (God Be With Our Suriname)

lyrics/music:

Cornelis Atses HOEKSTRA and Henry DE ZIEL/Johannes Corstianus DE PUY

history:

• adopted 1959;
• originally adapted from a Sunday-school song written in 1893;
• contains lyrics in both Dutch and Sranang Tongo

total World Heritage Sites:

3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales:

• Central Suriname Nature Reserve (n);
• Historic Inner City of Paramaribo (c);
• Jodensavanne Archaeological Site: Jodensavanne Settlement and Cassipora Creek Cemetery (c)

• upper middle-income South American economy;
• new floating currency regime;
• key aluminum goods, gold, and hydrocarbon exporter;
• new IMF plan for economic recovery and fiscal sustainability;
• controversial hardwood industry

total:

24.2% (2024 est.)

male:

16.9% (2024 est.)

female:

35.9% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

lowest 10%:

2.2% (2022 est.)

highest 10%:

30.1% (2022 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

total petroleum production:

14,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption:

17,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves:

89 million barrels (2021 est.)

production:

7.173 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

consumption:

6.967 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

• 2 state-owned TV stations;
• 1 state-owned radio station;
• multiple private radio and TV stations (2019)

total ports:

4 (2024)

large:

0

medium:

0

small:

1

very small:

3

ports with oil terminals:

3

key ports:

Moengo, Nieuw Nickerie, Paramaribo, Paranam

• Suriname National Army (Nationaal Leger or NL);
• Army (Landmacht), Navy (Marine);
• Air Force (Luchtmacht), Military Police (Korps Militaire Politie)

Ministry of Justice and Police:

Suriname Police Force (Korps Politie Suriname or KPS) (2026)

• the National Leger is responsible for defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Suriname against foreign aggression;
• other special tasks include border control and supporting domestic security as required;
• the military police, for example, have direct responsibility for immigration control at the country’s ports of entry, and the military assists the police in combating crime, particularly narco-trafficking, including joint military and police patrols, as well as joint special security teams;
• in addition, the military provides aid and assistance during times of natural emergencies and participates in socio-economic development projects (2025)