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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.
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Common Name: Suriname
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Local Official Name: Suriname
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Abbreviated Name: Republic of Suriname
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Official Name: Republiek Suriname
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Official Script Name: Suriname
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Local Common Name: Suriname
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Former Name: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana
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Territory of: NA
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Head of State: President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN
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Government Type: constitutional democracy
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Independence: 1975 November 25 (from Netherlands)
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Constitution: ratified 1987 September 30
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National Holiday: Independence Day, 25 November
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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
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Administrative Divisions: 10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica
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Dependent Areas: NA
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Legal System: based on Dutch legal system incorporating French penal theory
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Suffrage: 18 years of age years
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Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches: 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)
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Party 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]
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International Disputes: 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
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Illicit Drugs: growing transshipment point for South American drugs destined for Europe via the Netherlands and Brazil; transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing
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Location of Suriname: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana
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Continent: South America
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Land Area Total: 163,270 sq km
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Region: Southern American |
Land Area Land: 161,470 sq km
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Capitol City: Paramaribo
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Land Area Water: 1,800 sq km
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Current: -3
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Latitude: 004 00 N
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Border Boundary Land: 1,707 km
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Longitude: 056 00 W
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Border Boundary Coastline: 386 km
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Arable Land: 0.36 %
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Pastures: 0.00 %
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Crops: 0.06 %
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Woodlands and Forests: 0.00
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Highest Elevation: 1,230 m
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Location: Juliana Top
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Lowest Elevation: -2 m
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Location: unnamed location in the coastal plain
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Largest City in Suriname: Paramaribo
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Paramaribo Largest City Population: 233,000
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Threatened Species: 58
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Environmental Issues: deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of inland waterways by small-scale mining activities
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Environmental Agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Irrigated Land: 510
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Bordering Countries: Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km
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Natural Resources: timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore
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Geographical Terrain: mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps
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Comparative Area of Suriname: slightly larger than Georgia
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Suriname's Geography: 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
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Click Here for detailed information about the weather conditions in Suriname.
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General Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds
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Natural Hazards: NA
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Economic 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.
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GDP: $2,893,000,000 USD
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Currency: Surinamese guilder
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GDP per Capita: $6,600 USD
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Currency Code: SRG
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GDP Growth Rate: 5.00 %
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One $USD Equals: %fincurrencyequals% SRG
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Currency Exchange Rate History: 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 floa
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GDP of Agriculture: 13.00 %
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GDP of Industry: 22.00 %
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GDP of Services: 78.00 % |
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Inflation Rate: 9.50 % |
Population in Poverty: 70.00 %
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Unemployment Rate: 9.50 %
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Tourism: 57,000.00 visitors each year
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Consumption by lowest 10%: 0.00 %
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Budget Revenue in USD: $392,600,000 USD
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Consumption by upper 10%: 0.00 %
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Budget Expenditures in USD: $425,900,000 USD
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Electricity Production: 2,014,000,000 kWh
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Electricity Exports: 0 kWh
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Electricity Consumption: 1,873,000,000 kWh
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Electricity Imports: 0 kWh
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Electricity Production by Source:
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Fossil Fuel Electricity Production: 35.82%
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Nuclear Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Hydro Electricity Production: 64.18%
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Other Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Oil Production: 12,000 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Production: 0 cu m
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Oil Consumption: 14,000 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Consumption: 0 cu m
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Oil Exports: 1,370 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Exports: 0 cu m
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Oil Imports: 1,644 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Imports: 0 cu m
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Proven Oil Reserves: 150,000,000 barrels
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Proven Natural Gas Reserves: 0 cu m
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External Debt: $504,300,000 USD |
Received in economic aid: $46,000,000 USD
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Donated in economic aid: $0 USD
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Agricultural Products: paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts; beef, chickens; shrimp; forest products
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Primary Industries: bauxite and gold mining, alumina production; oil, lumbering, food processing, fishing
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Industrial Growth Rate: 6.50 %
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Import Amount in USD: $750,000,000 USD - capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods
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Import Partners: US 29.3%, Netherlands 17.5%, Trinidad and Tobago 12.7%, China 6.5%, Japan 5.2%
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Export Amount in USD: $881,000,000 USD - alumina, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas
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Export Partners: Norway 23.5%, US 16.5%, Canada 16.1%, Belgium 9.7%, France 7.9%, UAE 7.3%
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GINI Index: 0.00%
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Labor Force Number of People: 156,700
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Labor Force by Occupations: agriculture: 8%, industry: 14%, services: 78%
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Radio Broadcast Stations: 18 |
Number of People with Radios: 300,000 |
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Television Broadcast Stations: 3 |
Number of People with Televisions: 63,000 |
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Number of People with Mainline Telephones: 81,100 |
Number of People with Mobile Phones: 232,800 |
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Internet Service Providers: 126 |
Internet Users: 30,000 |
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Internet Country Code: .sr |
Newspapers: 68 |
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Two Letter Country Code: NS |
Weights and Measures: |
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Phone Country Code: 597 |
Electricity Voltage: 127 Volts |
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Telephone Systems: general assessment: international facilities are good
domestic: microwave radio relay network
international: country code - 597; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
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Highways: 1,168 km |
Railways: 0 km
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Gas And Oil Pipelines: 51 km |
Waterways: 1,200 km
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Airports: 5 |
Heliports: 0
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Motor Vehicles: 199 per 1,000 people |
CO2 Emissions: 2,110,000 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
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Per capita CO2 emissions: 5.10 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
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Merchant Marines: total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 1,078 GRT/1,214 DWT
by type: cargo 1
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Ports and Harbors: Paramaribo
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Population: 439,117 people type - nationality |
Birth Rate: 18.02 births per 1,000 people |
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Population Density: 3.00 people per sq km |
Death Rate: 7.27 deaths per 1,000 people |
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Population Growth: 0.20% per year |
Fertility Rate per Women: 2.32 babies born per woman |
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Population Male 0-14: 65,412 |
Population Female 0-14: 62,069 |
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Population Male 15-64: 145,913 |
Population Female 15-64: 138,076 |
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Population Male 65+: 12,223 |
Population Female 65+: 15,424 |
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Population 0-14: 29.00% |
Literacy Rate: 88.00% |
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Population 15-64: 64.70% |
Literacy rate of Males: 92.30% |
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Population 65+: 6.30% |
Literacy rate of Females: 84.10% |
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Population that is Male: 52.00
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Population that is Female: 48.00% |
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Life expectancy at birth in years: 69.01 years |
Infant mortality rate - baby deaths per 1000 births: 23.02 Babies die per 1,000 births |
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Life expectancy at birth for Males: 66.66 years |
Life expectancy at birth for Females: 71.47 years |
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Rate of AIDS/HIV infection: 1.70%
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Number of people living with AIDS or HIV: 5,200
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Number of people who died of AIDS: 0 |
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Disease Risk:
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Diseases:
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Net Migration Rate per 1,000 people: -8.76
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Nationality: SURINAMESE
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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 i
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Primary Language: Dutch
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Other 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
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Primary Religion: Hindu
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Other Religions: Hindu 27.4%, Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian), Roman Catholic 22.8%, Muslim 19.6%, indigenous beliefs 5%
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Branches: National Army, Naval Element, Air Wing
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Manpower Fit to Serve: 18 years
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Manpower Available: 215,351 People
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Manpower Fit to Serve: 150,736 People
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Amount of Manpower Available each Year: 0 People per year
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Expenditures: $0 USD per year
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Expenditures as a Percentage of GDP: 0.70
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Note: Phrasebase uses a variety of sources when compiling the facts and information presented above. This information is continually updated throughout the year.
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