Suriname

Republic of SurinameRepubliek Suriname

republicIndependence 25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)

Suriname as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 82 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalParamaribo

Area163,270 sq km

LocationNorthern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,

Populationas each edition published it

429,544 people July 1995 est. · 396,813 in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.58% 1995 est. · 1.54% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 25.5 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

69.76 years 1995 est. · 69.14 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.73 children per woman 1995 est. · 2.9 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

30.2 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 40 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$2,800 1994 est. · $3,300 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

-0.8% 1994 est. · -2.5% in 1993

Geography

Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, | between French Guiana and Guyana

14 fields

Land useshare of 163,270 sq km

meadows and pastures 0%forest and woodland 97%other 3%permanent crops 0% in all · irrigated 590 sq km (1989 est.)arable land: NEGL%

Area

163,270sq km

land area: 161,470 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Georgia

Coastline

386km

exclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Land boundaries

1,707km

total · Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km

Location

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

International disputes

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 Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne)

Terrain

mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps

Natural resources

timber, hydropower potential, fish, shrimp, bauxite, iron ore, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, gold

Environment

current issues:: deforestation as foreign producers obtain timber concessions
natural hazards:: NA
international agreements:: party to - Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ship Pollution, Wetlands;
signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Note

mostly tropical rain forest;
great diversity of flora and fauna which for the most part is not threatened because of the lack of development;
relatively small population most of which lives along the coast

People

15 fields

Population

429,544

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 1.58% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

24.72Death

5.91Net migration

-3

Male · female(1995 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years69.76

67.24 · 72.41

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy95%

95% · 95%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Hindustani (also known locally as "East" Indians; their ancestors emigrated from northern India in the latter part of the 19th century) 37%Creole (mixed European and African ancestry) 31%Javanese 15.3%"Bush Black" (also known as "Bush Creole" whose ancestors were brought to the country in the 17th and 18th centuries as slaves) 10.3%Amerindian 2.6%Chinese 1.7%Europeans 1%other 1.1%

Religions

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

Age structure

0-14 years:: 34% (female 70,845; male 74,330)
15-64 years:: 61% (female 130,153; male 133,693)
65 years and over:: 5% (female 10,897; male 9,626) (July 1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate

30.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.73 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Surinamer(s)
adjective:: Surinamese

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

Labor force

Government

Republic

22 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

80%

elected by the National Assembly - Ronald VENETIAAN (NF) (645 votes) 80%Jules WIJDENBOSCH (NDP) (115 votes) 14%Hans PRADE (DA '91) (49 votes) 6%

Legislature, 51 seatsone dot, one seat

NF 30NDP 10DA '91 9independents 2

Names

conventional long form:: Republic of Suriname
conventional short form:: Suriname
local long form:: Republiek Suriname
local short form:: Suriname
former:: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana

Digraph

Type

republic

Capital

Paramaribo

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 November (1975)

Constitution

ratified 30 September 1987

Legal system

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state and head of government:: President Ronald R. VENETIAAN (since 16 September 1991);
Prime Minister Jules R. AJODHIA (since 16 September 1991);
election last held 6 September 1991 (next to be held NA May 1996);
results - elected by the National Assembly - Ronald VENETIAAN (NF) 80% (645 votes), Jules WIJDENBOSCH (NDP) 14% (115 votes), Hans PRADE (DA '91) 6% (49 votes)
cabinet:: Cabinet of Ministers; appointed by the president from members of the National Assembly

note: Commander in Chief of the National Army maintains significant power

Legislative branch

unicameral

National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)

elections last held 25 May 1991 (next to be held NA May 1996);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (51 total) NF 30, NDP 10, DA '91 9, independents 2

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

The New Front (NF), a coalition of four parties (NPS, VHP, KTPI, SPA), leader Ronald R. VENETIAAN;
Progressive Reform Party (VHP), Jaggernath LACHMON;
National Party of Suriname (NPS), Ronald VENETIAAN;
Party of National Unity and Solidarity (KTPI), Willy SOEMITA;
Suriname Labor Party (SPA), Fred DERBY;
Democratic Alternative '91 (DA '91), Winston JESSURUN, a coalition of four parties (AF, HPP, Pendawa Lima, BEP) formed in January 1991;
Alternative Forum (AF), Gerard BRUNINGS, Winston JESSURUN;
Reformed Progressive Party (HPP), Panalal PARMESSAR;
Party for Brotherhood and Unity in Politics (BEP), Caprino ALLENDY;
Pendawa Lima, Marsha JAMIN;
National Democratic Party (NDP), Desire BOUTERSE;
Progressive Workers' and Farm Laborers' Union (PALU), Ir Iwan KROLIS, chairman;

Other political or pressure groups

Surinamese Liberation Army (SLA), Ronnie BRUNSWIJK, Johan "Castro" WALLY;
Union for Liberation and Democracy, Kofi AFONGPONG;
Mandela Bushnegro Liberation Movement, Leendert ADAMS;
Tucayana Amazonica, Alex JUBITANA, Thomas SABAJO

Member of

ACP, CARICOM, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Willem A. UDENHOUT
chancery:: Suite 108, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 244-7488, 7490 through 7492

FAX

[1] (202) 244-5878; consulate(s) general: Miami

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Roger R. GAMBLE
embassy:: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo
mailing address:: P. O. Box 1821, Paramaribo
telephone:: [597] 472900, 477881, 476459

FAX

[597] 410025

Flag

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

Economy

The economy is dominated by the bauxite industry, which | accounts for 15% of GDP and about 70% of export earnings.

19 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$2,800

(1994 est.)

Real growth rate

-0.8%

(1994 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 3.5% (1992 est.); accounts for 18% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

225%

(1994 est.)

External debt

$180million

(March 1993 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$300 millionExpenditures

$700 million (1994 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $70 million

Installed generating capacity, 420,000 kW

Electricity production

1.4 billionElectricity consumption per capita

3,123 (1993)

Overview

The economy is dominated by the bauxite industry, which accounts for 15% of GDP and about 70% of export earnings. Paramaribo has failed to initiate the economic reforms necessary to stabilize the economy or win renewed Dutch aid disbursements. The government continues to finance deficit spending with monetary emissions.

As a result, high inflation, high unemployment, widespread black market activity, and hard currency shortfalls continue to mark the economy.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.2 billion (1994 est.)

Unemployment rate

Exports

$443.3 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

commodities:: alumina, aluminum, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas
partners:: Norway 33%, Netherlands 26%, US 13%, Japan 6%, Brazil 6%, UK 3% (1992)

Imports

$520.5 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

commodities:: capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods
partners:: US 42%, Netherlands 22%, Trinidad and Tobago 10%, Brazil 5% (1992)

Industries

bauxite mining, alumina and aluminum production, lumbering, food processing, fishing

Agriculture

accounts for 15% of GDP and 25% of export earnings;
paddy rice planted on 85% of arable land and represents 60% of total farm output;
other products - bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts, beef, chicken;
shrimp and forestry products of increasing importance;
self-sufficient in most foods

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe

Economic aid

recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-83), $2.5 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.5 billion

Currency

1 Surinamese guilder, gulden, or florin (Sf.) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

Surinamese guilders, gulden, or florins (Sf.) per US$1 - 1.7850 (fixed rate); parallel rate 510 (December 1994), 109 (January 1994)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

6 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 46 in all

over 3,047 m

under 914 m

914 to 1,523 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

8,800Railroads

166Inland waterways

1,200

Highways: paved: 500 km · unpaved: bauxite, gravel, crushed stone 5,400 km; improved and unimproved earth 2,900 km · Railroads: (single track) · standard gauge: 80 km 1.435-m gauge · narrow gauge: 86 km 1.000-m gauge · Inland waterways: ; most important means of transport; oceangoing vessels with drafts ranging up to 7 m can navigate many of the principal waterways