2015 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 African slavery in 1863, workers were brought in from India and Java. The Netherlands granted the colony independence 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 ruled until August 2010, when voters returned former military leader Desire BOUTERSE and his opposition coalition to power.

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

1,396 cu m/yr (2006)

total

0.67 cu km/yr (6%/4%/90%)

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

511.8 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries (3)

Brazil 515 km, French Guiana 556 km, Guyana 836 km

total

1,907 km

Land use

arable land 0.4%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0.1%

agricultural land

0.5%

forest

94.6%

other

4.9% (2011 est.)

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 (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

25.66% (male 75,791/female 72,934)

15-24 years

17.48% (male 51,657/female 49,662)

25-54 years

44.3% (male 130,726/female 126,048)

55-64 years

6.81% (male 19,291/female 20,198)

65 years and over

5.75% (male 14,395/female 18,931) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

16.34 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

percentage

6% (2006 est.)

total number

6,094

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

5.8% (2010)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

47.6% (2010)

Death rate

6.13 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Demographic profile

Suriname is a pluralistic society consisting primarily of Creoles (persons of mixed African and European heritage), the descendants of escaped African slaves known as Maroons, and the descendants of Indian and Javanese contract workers. The country overall is in full, post-industrial demographic transition, with a low fertility rate, a moderate mortality rate, and a rising life expectancy. However, the Maroon population of the rural interior lags behind because of lower educational attainment and contraceptive use, higher malnutrition, and significantly less access to electricity, potable water, sanitation, infrastructure, and health care.

Some 350,000 people of Surinamese descent live in the Netherlands, Suriname's former colonial ruler. In the 19th century, better-educated, largely Dutch-speaking Surinamese began emigrating to the Netherlands. World War II interrupted the outflow, but it resumed after the war when Dutch labor demands grew - emigrants included all segments of the Creole population. Suriname still is strongly influenced by the Netherlands because most Surinamese have relatives living there and it is the largest supplier of development aid. Other emigration destinations include French Guiana and the United States. Suriname's immigration rules are flexible, and the country is easy to enter illegally because rainforests obscure its borders. Since the mid-1980s, Brazilians have settled in Suriname's capital, Paramaribo, or eastern Suriname, where they mine gold. This immigration is likely to slowly re-orient Suriname toward its Latin American roots.

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

10.4%

potential support ratio

9.6% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

50.8%

youth dependency ratio

40.4%

Drinking water source

urban: 98.1% of population

rural: 88.4% of population

total: 94.8% of population

urban: 1.9% of population

rural: 11.6% of population

total: 5.2% of population (2015 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

1.02% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

200 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

3,800 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

3.1 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

female

21.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

30.48 deaths/1,000 live births

total

26.17 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

74.48 years (2015 est.)

male

69.57 years

total population

71.97 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

95% (2015 est.)

male

96.1%

total population

95.6%

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease

dengue fever and malaria (2013)

Major urban areas - population

PARAMARIBO (capital) 234,000 (2014)

Maternal mortality rate

155 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

female

29.4 years (2015 est.)

male

28.7 years

total

29.1 years

Nationality

adjective

Surinamese

noun

Surinamer(s)

Net migration rate

0.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

26.1% (2014)

Population

579,633 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

1.08% (2015 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 88.4% of population

rural: 61.4% of population

total: 79.2% of population

urban: 11.6% of population

rural: 38.6% of population

total: 20.8% of population (2015 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.04 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.76 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.97 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

21.7% (2013 est.)

male

11.6%

total

15.3%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.78% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

66% of total population (2015)

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)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Suriname

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Constitution

previous 1975; latest ratified 30 September 1987, effective 30 October 1987; amended 1992 (2015)

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 Jay N. ANANIA (since 1 October 2012)

embassy

Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo

FAX

[597] 410-972

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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Sylvana Elvira SIMSON (since 1 September 2015)

consulate(s) general

Miami

FAX

[1] (202) 244-5878

telephone

[1] (202) 244-7488

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President Desire Delano BOUTERSE (since 12 August 2010); Vice President Ashwin ADHIN (since 12 August 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

election results

Desire Delano BOUTERSE reelected president; National Assembly vote - NA

elections/appointments

president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly; president and vice president serve a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 25 May 2015 (next to be held on 25 May 2020)

head of government

President Desire Delano BOUTERSE (since 12 August 2010); Vice President Ashwin ADHIN (since 12 August 2015)

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 law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

highest resident court(s)

High Court of Justice of Suriname (consists of the court president, vice president, and 4 judges); note - Suriname can appeal beyond its High Court to the Caribbean Court of Justice, with final appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)

judge selection and term of office

court judges appointed by the national president after consultation with the High Court; judges appointed for life

subordinate courts

cantonal courts

Legal system

civil law system influenced by Dutch civil law; note - the Commissie Nieuw Surinaamse Burgerlijk Wetboek completed drafting a new civil code in February 2009

Legislative branch

description

unicameral National Assembly or Nationale Assemblee (51 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NDP 45.5%, V7 37.2%, A-Com 10.5%, DOE 4.3%, PALU .7%, other 1.7%; seats by party - NDP 26, V7 18, A-Com 5, DOE 1, PALU 1

elections

last held on 25 May 2015 (next to be held in May 2020)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Cornelis Atses HOEKSTRA and Henry DE ZIEL/Johannes Corstianus DE PUY

name

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

note

adopted 1959; originally adapted from a Sunday school song written in 1893 and contains lyrics in both Dutch and Sranang Tongo

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 November (1975)

National symbol(s)

royal palm, faya lobi (flower); national colors: green, white, red, yellow

Political parties and leaders

Alternative Combination or A-Com (a coalition that includes ABOP, KTPI, PDO)

Brotherhood and Unity in Politics or BEP [Celsius WATERBERG]

Democratic Alternative '91 or DA91 [Winston JESSURUN]

General Liberation and Development Party or ABOP [Ronnie BRUNSWIJK}

National Democratic Party or NDP [Desire Delano BOUTERSE]

National Party of Suriname or NPS [Gregory RUSLAND]

Party for Democracy and Development or PDO [Waldy NAIN]

Party for Democracy and Development in Unity or DOE [Carl BREEVELD]

Party for National Unity and Solidarity or KTPI [Willy SOEMITA]

People's Alliance, Pertjaja Luhur or PL [Paul SOMOHARDJO]

Progressive Worker and Farmer's Union or PALU [Jim HOK]

Surinamese Labor Party or SPA [Guno CASTELEN]

United Reform Party or VHP [Chandrikapersad SANTOKHI]

Victory 7 or V7 (formerly the New Front for Democracy and Development or NF) (a coalition including NPS, VHP, DA91, PL, SPA) [Chandrikapresad SANTOKHI]

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

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

Budget

expenditures

$1.383 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$1.156 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.4% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

10% (2013)

9% (2012)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

12.28% (31 December 2014 est.)

11.99% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$386 million (2014 est.)

-$198 million (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$1.067 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$983 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Economy - overview

The economy is dominated by the mining industry, with exports of oil, gold, and alumina accounting for about 85% of exports and 27% of government revenues, making the economy highly vulnerable to mineral price volatility. Economic growth has declined from just under 5% in 2012 and 2013 to 4% in 2014. In January 2011, the government devalued the currency by 20% and raised taxes to reduce the budget deficit. As a result of these measures, inflation receded to less than 4% in 2014. 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's reliance on revenue from extractive industries will temper Suriname's economic outlook, especially if gold prices continue their downward trend.

Exchange rates

Surinamese dollars (SRD) per US dollar -

3.3 (2014 est.)

3.3 (2013 est.)

3.3 (2012 est.)

3.2683 (2011 est.)

2.7454 (2010 est.)

Exports

$2.149 billion (2014 est.)

$2.395 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 32.1%, UAE 16.8%, Belgium 13.4%, Canada 10%, France 6.2%, Netherlands 4.3% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

26.3%

government consumption

10.7%

household consumption

49.6%

imports of goods and services

-28%

investment in fixed capital

11.3%

investment in inventories

30.1%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

6.2%

industry

48.9%

services

44.8% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$16,300 (2014 est.)

$16,000 (2013 est.)

$15,500 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

1.8% (2014 est.)

2.8% (2013 est.)

3.1% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$5.21 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$8.987 billion (2014 est.)

$8.825 billion (2013 est.)

$8.581 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

25.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

26% of GDP (2013 est.)

30.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$1.966 billion (2014 est.)

$2.126 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods

Imports - partners

US 31.3%, Netherlands 16.6%, China 10.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 6.9%, Japan 4.2% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

2.5% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.4% (2014 est.)

1.9% (2013 est.)

Labor force

165,600 (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

11.2%

industry

19.5%

services

69.3% (2010)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

70% (2002 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$625.2 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$778.8 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$2.885 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$2.736 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$2.029 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.669 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.409 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.353 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

22.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

8.9% (2014 est.)

8.5% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

2.268 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - production

15,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

88.97 million bbl (1 January 2015 est.)

Electricity - consumption

1.572 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

54.1% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

45.9% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

412,000 kW (2012 est.)

Electricity - production

1.75 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

17,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

8,884 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

10,070 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

15,980 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Broadcast media

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

Internet country code

.sr

Internet users

percent of population

37.1% (2014 est.)

total

212,900

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4, FM 23, shortwave 3 (2008)

Telephone system

domestic

combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity 185 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) (2010)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

15 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

84,900

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

162 (2014 est.)

total

927,800

Television broadcast stations

3 (plus 7 repeaters) (2000)

Airports

55 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1

total

6

under 914 m

5 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

45 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

4

total

49

Pipelines

oil 50 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

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) (2011)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

134,439 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

134,218

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

112,538 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

109,445

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

4,106 (2010 est.)

male

4,119

Military branches

Suriname Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air Forces (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription; personnel drawn almost exclusively from the Creole community (2012)

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 arbitration to resolve the longstanding 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

Trafficking in persons

current situation

Suriname is a source and destination country for women, men, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; women and girls from Suriname, Guyana, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic are subjected to sex trafficking in the country, sometimes in interior mining camps; Surinamese women and girls are also sexually exploited in French Guiana; migrant workers in agriculture and on fishing boats and children working in informal urban sectors and gold mines are vulnerable to forced labor

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List – Suriname does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government has a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute a significant effort toward meeting the minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking; in 2013, the government prosecuted an increased number of sex trafficking cases but decreased investigations and prosecutions of sex trafficking offenders; authorities failed to investigate, prosecute, or convict labor traffickers; fewer sex trafficking and no forced labor victims were identified; protective services for victims were inadequate, but plans to open a government-run shelter for women and child victims were initiated in 2014; a national strategy to combat human trafficking was also adopted in 2014 (2014)