2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 29% (male 65,412/female 62,069) 15-64 years: 64.7% (male 145,913/female 138,076) 65 years and over: 6.3% (male 12,223/female 15,424) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

47 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1

total

5

under 914 m

4 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

42 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m

36 (2006)

Area

land

161,470 sq km

total

163,270 sq km

water

1,800 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Georgia

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, expanding to eight parties in 2005. Geography Suriname

Birth rate

18.02 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$425.9 million (2004)

revenues

$392.6 million

Capital

geographic coordinates

5 50 N, 55 10 W

name

Paramaribo

time difference

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

Climate

tropical; moderated by trade winds

Coastline

386 km

Constitution

ratified 30 September 1987

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Suriname

conventional short form

Suriname

former

Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana

local long form

Republiek Suriname

local short form

Suriname

Currency (code)

Surinam dollar (SRD)

Currency code

SRG

Death rate

7.27 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$504.3 million (2005 est.)

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

Suite 460, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Henry Lothar ILLES

telephone

[1] (202) 244-7488

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

Economic aid - recipient

$46 million Netherlands provided $37 million for project and program assistance, European Development Fund $4 million, Belgium $2 million (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. Bidding on these new offshore blocks was completed in July 2006.

Electricity - consumption

1.403 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

1.509 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

25.2%

hydro

74.8%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Juliana Top 1,230 m

lowest point

unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m

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, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

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%

Exchange rates

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

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president

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

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

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)

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

Exports

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

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Norway 23.6%, US 16.5%, Canada 16.1%, Belgium 9.7%, France 7.9%, UAE 7.3% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 244-5878

[597] 425-690

consulate(s) general

Miami

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Suriname

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 Suriname

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

13%

industry

22%

services

65% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$7,100 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.398 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$3.098 billion (2006 est.)

Geographic coordinates

4 00 N, 56 00 W

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 Suriname

Government type

constitutional democracy

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.7% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

5,200 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Illicit drugs

growing transshipment point for South American drugs destined for Europe via the Netherlands and Brazil; transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Imports

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

Imports - commodities

capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods

Imports - partners

US 29.3%, Netherlands 17.5%, Trinidad and Tobago 12.7%, China 6.5%, Japan 5.2%, Brazil 4.3% (2005)

Independence

25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)

Industrial production growth rate

6.5% (1994 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

18.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

26.89 deaths/1,000 live births

total

23.02 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

9.5% (2005 est.)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.sr

Internet hosts

126 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2000)

Internet users

30,000 (2005) Transportation Suriname

Irrigated land

510 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

156,700 (2004)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

8%

industry

14%

services

78%

Land boundaries

border countries

Brazil 593 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km

total

1,703 km

Land use

arable land

0.36%

other

99.58% (2005)

permanent crops

0.06%

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

Legal system

based on Dutch legal system incorporating French penal theory; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch

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

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

elections

last held 25 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010)

Life expectancy at birth

female

71.47 years (2006 est.)

male

66.66 years

total population

69.01 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

84.1% (2000 est.) Government Suriname

male

92.3%

total population

88%

Location

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

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

103,769 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

111,582

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

72,943 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

77,793

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

26.9 years (2006 est.)

male

26 years

total

26.5 years

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 1 (2006)

total

1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 1,078 GRT/1,214 DWT

Military branches

National Army, Naval Element, Air Wing (2006)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$7.5 million (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.7% (2003 est.) Transnational Issues Suriname

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (est.); no conscription

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 November (1975)

Nationality

adjective

Surinamese

noun

Surinamer(s)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

-8.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

11,200 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

1,370 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports

1,644 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - production

9,462 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

150 million bbl (2005)

Pipelines

oil 51 km (2006)

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]

Population

439,117 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

70% (2002 est.)

Population growth rate

0.2% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Paramaribo Military Suriname

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4, FM 13, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

300,000 (1997)

Religions

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

Roadways

paved

1,130 km

total

4,304 km

unpaved

3,174 km (2003)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

microwave radio relay network

general assessment

international facilities are good

international

country code - 597; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

81,100 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular

232,800 (2005)

Television broadcast stations

3 (plus seven repeaters) (2000)

Televisions

63,000 (1997)

Terrain

mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps

Total fertility rate

2.32 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

9.5% (2004)

Waterways

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