2010 Edition

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 coalition - returned to power in 1991. The coalition expanded to eight parties in 2005 and has continued to rule since.

Area

land

156,000 sq km

total

163,820 sq km

water

7,820 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Georgia

Climate

tropical; moderated by trade winds

Coastline

386 km

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, 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

1,489 cu m/yr (2000)

total

0.67 cu km/yr (4%/3%/93%)

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

Irrigated land

510 sq km (2003)

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%

Location

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

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

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

Terrain

mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps

Total renewable water resources

122 cu km (2003)

Age structure

0-14 years: 27.1% (male 66,603/female 64,035) 15-64 years: 66.6% (male 159,525/female 160,871) 65 years and over: 6.3% (male 13,004/female 17,229) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

16.61 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

5.53 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

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%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

2.4% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

6,800 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

14.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

21.48 deaths/1,000 live births

total

18.19 deaths/1,000 live births

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

76.91 years (2010 est.)

male

71.24 years

total population

73.98 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

87.2% (2004 census)

male

92%

total population

89.6%

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 (2009)

Median age

female

28.7 years (2010 est.)

male

27.9 years

total

28.3 years

Nationality

adjective

Surinamese

noun

Surinamer(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

486,618 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

1.108% (2010 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

13 years (2002)

male

11 years

total

12 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.068 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.97 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

75% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

geographic coordinates

5 50 N, 55 10 W

name

Paramaribo

time difference

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

Constitution

ratified 30 September 1987; effective 30 October 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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador John R. NAY

embassy

Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo

FAX

[597] 410-025

mailing address

US Department of State, PO Box 1821, Paramaribo

telephone

[597] 472-900

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

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

chief of mission

Ambassador Jacques Ruben Constantijn KROSS

consulate(s) general

Miami

FAX

[1] (202) 244-5878

telephone

[1] (202) 244-7488

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Desire Delano BOUTERSE (since 12 August 2010); Vice President Robert AMEERALI (since 12 August 2010); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

Desire Delano BOUTERSE elected president; percent of vote - Desire Delano BOUTERSE 70.6%, Chandrikapersad SATOKHI 25.5%, other 3.9%

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 19 July 2010 (next to be held in 2015)

head of government

President Desire Delano BOUTERSE (since 12 August 2010); Vice President Robert AMEERALI (since 12 August 2010)

Flag description

five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red (quadruple width), white, and green (double width); a large, yellow, five-pointed star is centered in the red band; red stands for progress and love; green symbolizes hope and fertility; white signifies peace, justice, and freedom; the star represents the unity of all ethnic groups; from its yellow light the nation draws strength to bear sacrifices patiently while working toward a golden future

Government type

constitutional democracy

Independence

25 November 1975 (from the Netherlands)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Cantonal Courts and a Court of Justice as an appellate court (justices are nominated for life); member of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)

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 elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - Mega Combination 45.1%, New Front 27.5%, A-Com 13.7%, People's Alliance 11.8%, DOE 1.9%; seats by party - Mega Combination 23, New Front 14, A-Com 7, People's Alliance 6, DOE 1

elections

last held on 25 May 2010 (next to be held in May 2015)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Cornelis Atses HOEKSTRA and Henry DE ZIEL/Johannes Corstianus DE PUY note: adopted 1959; the anthem, originally adapted from a Sunday school song written in 1893, contains lyrics in both Dutch and Sranan Tongo

name

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 November (1975)

Political parties and leaders

A-Combination (a coalition that includes the General Liberation and Development Party ABOP [Ronnie BRUNSWIJK], SEEKA [Paul ABENA], Union of Brotherhood and Unity in Politics BEP [Caprino ALENDY]; Basic Party for Renewal and Democracy or BVD [Dilip SARDJOE]; Basic Party for Renewal and Democracy or PVF [Soedeschand JAIRAM]; Democratic Union Suriname or DUS [Japhet DIEKO]; Mega-Combination-Ruling Coalition (a coalition that joined with A-Combination and the PL to form a majority in Parliament in 2010 - includes the National Democratic Party or NDP [Desire BOUTERSE] (largest party in the coalition), Progressive Worker and Farmer's Union or PALU [Jim HOK], Party for National Unity and Solidarity of the Highest Order or KTPI [Willy SOEMITA], DNP-2000 [Jules WIJDENBOSCH], and New Suriname or NS [Nanan PANDAY]); National Union or NU [P. VAN LEEUWAARDE]; New Front for Democracy and Development or NF (a coalition made up of the National Party of Suriname or NPS [Runaldo VENETIAAN], United Reform Party or VHP [Ramdien SARDJOE], Democratic Alternative 1991 or DA-91 - an independent, business-oriented party [Winston JESSURUN], Surinamese Labor Party or SPA [Siegfried GILDS]); Party for Democracy and Development in Unity or DOE [Carl BREEVELD]; Party for the Permanent Prosperity Republic Suriname or PVRS [NA]; People's Alliance, Pertjaja Luhur's or PL [Paul SOMOHARDJO](includes D-21 [Soewarta MOESTADJA] and Pendawa Lima [Raymond SAPEON], which merged with PL in 2010) note: BVD and PVF participated in the elections as a coalition (BVD/PVF) in the most recent elections, but separated after the election

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]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Commercial bank prime lending rate

11.65% (31 December 2009 est.) 12.2% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

$24 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$504.3 million (2005 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. 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. Economic growth reached about 6% in 2007 and 2008, owing to sizeable foreign investment in mining and oil. Suriname has received aid for projects in the bauxite and gold mining sectors from Netherlands, Belgium, and the European Development Fund. The economy contracted in 2009, however, as investment waned and the country earned less from its commodity exports when global prices for most commodities fell. Trade picked up, boosting Suriname's economic growth in 2010, but the government's budget remained strained, with increased social spending during last year's election. 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.

Electricity - consumption

1.467 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

1.605 billion kWh (2007 est.)

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

Exports

$1.391 billion (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Canada 35.47%, Belgium 14.92%, US 10.15%, UAE 9.87%, Norway 4.92%, Netherlands 4.7%, France 4.47% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

10.8%

industry

24.4%

services

64.8% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$9,900 (2010 est.) $9,600 (2009 est.) $9,500 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.5% (2010 est.) 2% (2009 est.) 7% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$3.297 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$4.794 billion (2010 est.) $4.632 billion (2009 est.) $4.541 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$1.297 billion (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods

Imports - partners

US 30.79%, Netherlands 19.17%, Trinidad and Tobago 13.04%, China 6.8%, Japan 5.85% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

6.5% (1994 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.4% (2007 est.)

Labor force

165,600 (2007)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

8%

industry

14%

services

78% (2004)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

14,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

4,308 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

6,296 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

15,190 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

79.6 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

70% (2002 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$263.3 million (2006)

Stock of broad money

$1.809 billion (31 December 2009) $1.573 billion (31 December 2008)

Stock of domestic credit

$793.1 million (31 December 2008 est.) $651 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$608 million (31 December 2009) $495.6 million (31 December 2008)

Unemployment rate

9.5% (2004)

Broadcast media

2 state-owned TV stations; 1 state-owned radio station; multiple private radio and TV stations (2007)

Internet country code

.sr

Internet hosts

171 (2010)

Internet users

163,000 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 175 telephones per 100 persons; 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

83,700 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

763,900 (2009)

Airports

51 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

5 over 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 4 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

46 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 41 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 1 (2008)

total

1

Pipelines

oil 50 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Paramaribo, Wageningen

Roadways

paved

1,130 km

total

4,304 km

unpaved

3,174 km (2003)

Waterways

1,200 km (most navigable by ships with drafts up to 7 m) (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 133,417 females age 16-49: 133,487 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 108,555 females age 16-49: 111,927 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

4,056 (2010 est.)

male

4,046

Military branches

National Army (Nationaal Leger, NL; includes Marine Section and Air Wing) (2010)

Military expenditures

0.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Military service age and obligation

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

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 page last updated on January 20, 2011 ======================================================================