Suriname

Republic of SurinameRepubliek Suriname

constitutional democracyIndependence 25 November 1975 (from the Netherlands)

Suriname as the 2008 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 130 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
2008

Every edition of Suriname

Populationas each edition published it
475,996 people July 2008 est. · 396,813 in 1990
Population growth% a year
1.099% 2008 est. · 1.54% in 1993
Median ageyears
27.5 years 2008 est. · 25.5 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
73.48 years 2008 est. · 69.14 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
2.01 children per woman 2008 est. · 2.9 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
19.45 deaths per 1,000 live births 2008 est. · 40 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$8,700 2007 est. · $3,300 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
5.1% 2007 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; the coalition expanded to eight parties in 2005.

Geography

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

20 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
1,703km
border countries: Brazil 593 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total:
0.67 cu km/yr (4%/3%/93%)
per capita:
1,489 cu m/yr (2000)

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
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

22 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2008 est.)

12,868
65 and over6.3%
16,882
156,961
15-6466.2%
158,234
66,695
0-1427.5%
64,356
MaleFemale
Population
475,996
(July 2008 est.)growth rate: 1.099% (2008 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2008 est.)

Birth
17.02Death
5.51Net migration
-0.52

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2008 est.)73.48
70.76 · 76.39Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)19.45
22.96 · 15.71Literacy (2004 census)89.6%
92% · 87.2%
TotalMale · femaleMedian age years (2008 est.)27.5
27.1 · 27.9School life expectancy years (2002)12
11 · 13
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:
1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.76 male(s)/female
total population:
0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.01 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk:
high
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease:
dengue fever, Mayaro virus, and malaria
water contact disease:
leptospirosis (2008)

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), Caribbean 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 on 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 39.7%NDP 22.2%VVV 13.8%A-Com 7.2%A-1 5.9%other 11.2%

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 the Netherlands)

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 November (1975)

Constitution

ratified 30 September 1987; effective 30 October 1987

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
  • President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12 August 2000);
  • Vice President Ramdien 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)
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 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 on 25 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
election results:
percent of vote by party - NF 39.7%, NDP 22.2%, VVV 13.8%, A-Com 7.2%, A-1 5.9%, other 11.2%; 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 that includes A-Combination or A-Com, Democratic Alternative 1991 or DA-91, an independent, business-oriented party [Winston JESSURUN], National Party Suriname or NPS [Ronald VENETIAAN], United Reform Party or VHP [Ramdien 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, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO (suspended), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Jacques Ruben Constantijn KROSS
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, PO Box 1821, Paramaribo
telephone:
[597] 472-900
FAX:
[597] 410-025

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

45 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$3.846billion
(2007 est.)official exchange rate: $2.404 billion (2007 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$8,700
(2007 est.)
Real growth rate
5.1%
(2007 est.)industrial production growth: 6.5% (1994 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2005 est.)

agriculture 10.8%industry 24.4%services 64.8% (2005 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

8.9%
US
27%
26.8%
Canada
20.2%
Norway
Netherlands
17.3%
Trinidad and Tobago
14.3%
9.2%
Belgium
7.9%
UAE
7.2%
France
China
5.9%
Japan
5.1%
Exports $1.391 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)Imports $1.297 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)(2007)

Budget

Revenues
$392.6 millionExpenditures
$425.9 million (2004)

Electricity

Electricity production
1.595 billion (2006 est.)Electricity consumption
1.457 billion (2006 est.)

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. 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 has received aid for these projects from Netherlands, Belgium, and the European Development Fund. 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.

In 2000, the government of Ronald VENETIAAN, returned to office and inherited an economy with inflation of over 100% and a growing fiscal deficit. He quickly implemented an austerity program, raised taxes, attempted to control spending, and tamed inflation. These economic policies are likely to remain in effect during VENETIAAN's third 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, Maersk, and Occidental. Bidding on these new offshore blocks was completed in July 2006.

Labor force

156,700 (2004)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture:
8%
industry:
14%
services:
78% (2004)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

13.77% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$416.6 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$824.4 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit

$651 million (31 December 2007)

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

13,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption

12,370 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports

2,899 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports

6,369 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves

88 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance

$24 million (2007 est.)

Exports

$1.391 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

$1.297 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods

Debt - external

$504.3 million (2005 est.)

Currency (code)

Surinam dollar (SRD)

Exchange rates

Surinamese dollars (SRD) per US dollar - 2.745 (2007), 2.745 (2006), 2.7317 (2005), 2.7336 (2004), 2.6013 (2003) note: in January 2004, the government replaced the guilder with the Surinamese dollar, tied to a US dollar-dominated currency basket

Communications

8 fields
Mobile cellular
320,000
(2006)
Fixed lines
81,500
(2006) · country code .sr

Telephone system

general assessment:
international facilities are good
domestic:
combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about 90 telephones per 100 persons; 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 7 repeaters) (2000)

Internet users

44,000 (2007)

Transportation

8 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

1
over 3,047 m
4
under 914 m
40
914 to 1,523 m
5
Paved 5Unpaved 45

Networkskm

Roadways
4,304Waterways
1,200 (2005)
Roadways: paved: 1,130 km · unpaved: 3,174 km (2003) · Waterways: (most navigable by ships with drafts up to 7 m)

Airports

50 (2007)

Pipelines

oil 50 km (2007)

Roadways

total:
4,304 km
paved:
1,130 km
unpaved:
3,174 km (2003)

Waterways

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

Merchant marine

total:
1
by type:
cargo 1 (2008)

Ports and terminals

Paramaribo, Wageningen

Military

National Army (Nationaal Leger, NL; includes Naval Wing, Air Wing) (2007)

6 fields
Military expenditures
0.6%of GDP
(2006 est.)

Military branches

National Army (Nationaal Leger, NL; includes Naval Wing, Air Wing) (2007)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (est.); recruitment is voluntary, with personnel drawn almost exclusively from the Creole community (2007)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49:
130,534
females age 16-49:
130,243 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49:
105,770
females age 16-49:
109,666 (2008 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 2008. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/suriname/2008.

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