Suriname

Republic of SurinameRepubliek Suriname

constitutional democracyIndependence 25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)

Suriname as the 2006 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 118 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, UTC-3
Position4 00 N, 56 00 W
Area163,270 sq km
LocationNorthern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana
2006

Every edition of Suriname

Populationas each edition published it
439,117 people July 2006 est. · 396,813 in 1990
Population growth% a year
0.2% 2006 est. · 1.54% in 1993
Median ageyears
26.5 years 2006 est. · 25.5 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
69.01 years 2006 est. · 69.14 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
2.32 children per woman 2006 est. · 2.9 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
23.02 deaths per 1,000 live births 2006 est. · 40 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$6,600 2005 est. · $3,300 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
5% 2005 est. · -2.5% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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 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 New Front coalition - returned to power in 1991 and has ruled since.

Geography

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

18 fields

Land useshare of 163,270 sq km

arable land 0.36%permanent crops 0.06%other 99.58% (2005)irrigated 510 sq km (2003)
Area
163,270sq km
land: 161,470 sq kmwater: 1,800 sq kmslightly larger than Georgia
Coastline
386km
territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Highest point
1,230m
Juliana Toplowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m
Land boundaries
1,707km
border countries: Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

4 00 N, 56 00 W

Map references

South America

Climate

tropical; moderated by trade winds

Terrain

mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps

Natural resources

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

Environment - current issues

deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of inland waterways by small-scale mining activities

Environment - international agreements

party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements

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

People

19 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2006 est.)

12,223
65 and over6.3%
15,424
145,913
15-6464.7%
138,076
65,412
0-1429%
62,069
MaleFemale
Population
439,117
(July 2006 est.)growth rate: 0.2% (2006 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2006 est.)

Birth
18.02Death
7.27Net migration
-8.76

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2006 est.)69.01
66.66 · 71.47Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)23.02
26.89 · 18.95
TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (2000 est.)88%
92.3% · 84.1%Median age years (2006 est.)26.5
26 · 26.9
MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

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%

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.79 male(s)/female
total population:
1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.32 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 500 (2003 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

Government

Constitutional democracy; President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12 August 2000); President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12 August 2000)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

62.9%
Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN 62.9%Rabin PARMESSAR 35.4%other 1.7%election last held 25 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010)

National Assembly or Nationale Assemblee, 51 seats, elected 25 May 2005one dot, one seat

NF 23NDP 15VVV 5A-Com 5A-1 3

Percent of vote

NF 39.73%NDP 22.2%VVV 13.79%A-Com 7.21%A-1 5.86%other 7.42%

Country 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

Government type

constitutional democracy

Capital

name:
Paramaribo
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

Independence

25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 November (1975)

Constitution

ratified 30 September 1987

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
  • President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12 August 2000);
  • Vice President Ram SARDJOE (since 3 August 2005);
  • note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:
  • President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12 August 2000);
  • Vice President Ram SARDJOE (since 3 August 2005);
  • note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
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 25 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
election results:
  • Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN reelected president;
  • percent of vote - Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN 62.9%, Rabin PARMESSAR 35.4%, other 1.7%;
  • note - after two votes in the parliament failed to secure a two-thirds majority for a candidate, the vote then went to a special session of the United People's Assembly on 3 August 2005

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Nationale Assemblee (51 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:
last held 25 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
election results:
percent of vote by party - NF 39.73%, NDP 22.2%, VVV 13.79%, A-Com 7.21%, A-1 5.86%, other 7.42%; seats by party - NF 23, NDP 15, VVV 5, A-Com 5, A-1 3

Judicial branch

Cantonal Courts and a Court of Justice as an appellate court (justices are nominated for life)

Political parties and leaders

  • Alternative-1 or A-1 (a coalition of Amazone Party of Suriname or APS [Kenneth VAN GENDEREN], Democrats of the 21st Century or D-21 [Soewarto MOESTADJA], Nieuw Suriname or NS [Radjen Nanan PANDAY], Political Wing of the FAL or PVF [Jiwan SITAL], Trefpunt 2000 or T-2000 [Arti JESSURUN]);
  • General Interior Development Party or ABOP [Ronnie BRUNSWIJK];
  • National Democratic Party or NDP [Desire BOUTERSE];
  • New Front for Democracy and Development or NF (a coalition which includes A-Combination or A-Com [leader NA], Democratic Alternative 1991 or DA-91 which split from the A-1 before the elections of May 2005 and are an independent, business-oriented party [Winston JESSURUN], National Party Suriname or NPS [Ronald VENETIAAN], United Reform Party or VHP [Ram SARDJOE], Pertjaja Luhur or PL [Salam Paul SOMOHARDJO], Surinamese Labor Party or SPA [Siegfried GILDS]);
  • Party for Democracy and Development in Unity or DOE [Marten SCHALKWIJK];
  • People's Alliance for Progress or VVV (a coalition of Democratic National Platform 2000 or DNP-2000 [Jules WIJDENBOSCH], Grassroots Party for Renewal and Democracy or BVD [Tjan GOBARDHAN], Party for National Unity and Solidarity of the Highest Order or KTPI [Willy SOEMITA], Party for Progression, Justice, and Perseverance or PPRS [Renee KAIMAN], Pendawalima or PL [Raymond SAPOEN]);
  • Progressive Laborers and Farmers Union or PALU [Jim HOK];
  • Progressive Political Party or PPP [Surinder MUNGRA];
  • Seeka [Paul ABENA];
  • Union of Progressive Surinamers or UPS [Sheoradj PANDAY]

Political pressure groups and leaders

  • Association of Indigenous Village Chiefs [Ricardo PANE];
  • Association of Saramaccan Authorities or Maroon [Head Captain WASE];
  • Women's Parliament Forum or PVF [Iris GILLIAD]

International organization participation

ACP, Caricom, CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO (suspended), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Henry Lothar ILLES
chancery:
Suite 460, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 244-7488
FAX:
[1] (202) 244-5878
consulate(s) general:
Miami

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Lisa Bobbie SCHREIBER HUGHES
embassy:
Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo
mailing address:
US Department of State, 3390 Paramaribo Place, Washington, DC, 20521-3390
telephone:
[597] 472-900
FAX:
[597] 425-690

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

Economy

The economy is dominated by the mining industry, which accounts for more than a third of GDP and subjects government revenues to mineral price volatility.

39 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$2.893billion
(2005 est.)official exchange rate: $1.3 billion (2005 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$6,600
(2005 est.)
Real growth rate
5%
(2005 est.)industrial production growth: 6.5% (1994 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2001)

agriculture 13%industry 22%services 65% (2001)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

16.5%
US
29.3%
23.5%
Norway
Netherlands
17.5%
16.1%
Canada
Trinidad and Tobago
12.7%
9.7%
Belgium
7.9%
France
7.3%
UAE
China
6.5%
Japan
5.2%
Exports $881 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)Imports $750 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)(2005)

Budget

Revenues
$392.6 millionExpenditures
$425.9 million (2004)

Electricity

Electricity production
2.014 billion (2003)Electricity consumption
1.873 billion (2003)

Economy - overview

The economy is dominated by the mining industry, which accounts for more than a third of GDP and subjects government revenues to mineral price volatility. The short-term economic outlook depends on the government's ability to control inflation and on the development of projects in the bauxite and gold mining sectors.

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 of Ronald VENETIAAN, in his first term, implemented an austerity program, raised taxes, and attempted to control spending.

Economic policies are likely to remain the same during VENETIAAN's second term. Prospects for local onshore oil production are good, as a drilling program is underway. Offshore oil drilling was given a boost in 2004 when the State Oil Company (Staatsolie) signed exploration agreements with Repsol, Mearsk, and Occidental.

Labor force

156,700 (2004)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture:
8%
industry:
14%
services:
78%

Agriculture - products

  • paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts;
  • beef, chickens;
  • shrimp;
  • forest products

Industries

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

Oil - production

12,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption

14,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

1,370 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports

1,644 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - proved reserves

150 million bbl (2005)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Exports

$881 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

alumina, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas

Imports

$750 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods

Debt - external

$504.3 million (2005 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$46 million Netherlands provided $37 million for project and program assistance, European Development Fund $4 million, Belgium $2 million (2003)

Currency (code)

Surinam dollar (SRD)

Exchange rates

Surinamese dollars per US dollar - 2.7317 (2005), Surinamese guilders per US dollar - 2.7336 (2004), 2.6013 (2003), 2.3468 (2002), 2.1785 (2001)

note: during 1998, the exchange rate splintered into four distinct rates; in January 1999 the government floated the guilder, but subsequently fixed it when the black-market rate plunged;

in January 2004, the government introduced the Surinamese dollar as replacement for the guilder, tied to a US dollar-dominated currency basket

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields
Mobile cellular
232,800
(2005)
Fixed lines
81,100
(2004) · country code .sr

Telephone system

general assessment:
international facilities are good
domestic:
microwave radio relay network
international:
country code - 597; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4, FM 13, shortwave 1 (1998)

Television broadcast stations

3 (plus seven repeaters) (2000)

Internet users

30,000 (2005)

Transportation

8 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

1
over 3,047 m
4
under 914 m
36
1,524 to 2,437 m
1
914 to 1,523 m
5
Paved 5Unpaved 42

Networkskm

Roadways
4,492Waterways
1,200 (2005)
Roadways: paved: 1,168 km · unpaved: 3,324 km (2002) · Waterways: (most navigable by ships with drafts up to 7 m)

Airports

47 (2006)

Pipelines

oil 51 km (2006)

Roadways

total:
4,492 km
paved:
1,168 km
unpaved:
3,324 km (2002)

Waterways

1,200 km (most navigable by ships with drafts up to 7 m) (2005)

Merchant marine

total:
1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 1,078 GRT/1,214 DWT
by type:
cargo 1 (2006)

Military

National Army, Naval Element, Air Wing (2006)

5 fields

Military branches

National Army, Naval Element, Air Wing (2006)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (est.); no conscription

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49:
111,582
females age 18-49:
103,769 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49:
77,793
females age 18-49:
72,943 (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

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 (UNCLOS) arbitration to resolve the long-standing 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

Central Intelligence Agency. “Suriname.” The World Factbook 2006. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/suriname/2006.

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