Suriname

From World travel guide

Suriname, formerly the colony of Netherlands Guiana or Dutch Guiana, is a country in Northern South America. It has a North Atlantic Ocean coastline in the north and is surrounded by French Guiana to the east, Brazil to the south and Guyana to the west. It is the smallest independent country on South American continent. The relatively small population lives mostly along the coast.

Contents 1 Regions 2 Cities 3 Other destinations 4 Understand 4.1 Climate 4.2 Terrain 4.3 History 5 Get in 5.1 By plane 5.2 By train 5.3 By car 5.4 By bus 5.5 By boat 6 Get around 7 Talk 8 Buy 9 Eat 10 Drink 11 Sleep 12 Learn 13 Work 14 Stay safe 15 Stay healthy 16 Respect 17 Contact 18 External links 19 Geography 20 People 21 Government 22 Economy 23 Communications 24 Transportation 25 Military 26 Transnational Issues

Regions

Administrative divisions 

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

Cities

• Paramaribo - Capital
• Albina
• Moengo
• New Nickerie
• Paranam
• Wageningen

Other destinations

Understand

Climate

Tropical; moderated by trade winds

Terrain

Mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps. Mostly tropical rain forest; great diversity of flora and fauna that, for the most part, is increasingly threatened by new development.

Elevation extremes 

lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m

highest point: Juliana Top 1,230 m

History

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 rule through a succession of nominally civilian administrations until 1987, when international pressure finally forced a democratic election. In 1989, the military overthrew the civilian government, but a democratically-elected government returned to power in 1991.

Get in

By plane

By train

By car

By bus

By boat

Get around

Talk

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

Buy

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Learn

Work

Stay safe

Stay healthy

Respect

Contact

External links

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Geography

Geographic coordinates 

4 00 N, 56 00 W

Area 

total: 163,270 sq km

land: 161,470 sq km

water: 1,800 sq km

Area - comparative 

slightly larger than Georgia

Coastline 

386 km

Maritime claims 

exclusive economic zone: 200 NM

territorial sea: 12 NM

Natural resources 

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

Land use 

arable land: 0.37%

permanent crops: 0.06%

note: there are 95,000 hectares of arable land, 7,000 hectares of permanent crops, and 15,000 hectares of permanent pastures (1998 est.)

other: 99.57%

Irrigated land 

490 sq km (1998 est.)

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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

People

Population 

436,494 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure 

0-14 years: 31.1% (male 69,642; female 66,262)

15-64 years: 63.1% (male 140,745; female 134,494)

65 years and over: 5.8% (male 11,480; female 13,871) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate 

0.55% (2002 est.)

Birth rate 

19.97 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate 

5.67 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate 

-8.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio 

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female

total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate 

23.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth 

total population: 71.9 years

female: 74.7 years (2002 est.)

male: 69.23 years

Total fertility rate 

2.44 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate 

1.26% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS 

3,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths 

83 (2002 est.)

Nationality 

noun: Surinamer(s)

adjective: Surinamese

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

Literacy 

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 93%

male: 95%

female: 91% (1995 est.)

Government

Country name 

conventional long form: Republic of Suriname

local long form: Republiek Suriname

Government type 

constitutional democracy

Independence 

25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)

National holiday 

Independence Day, 25 November (1975)

Constitution 

ratified 30 September 1987

Legal system 

based on Dutch legal system incorporating French penal theory

Suffrage 

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch 

chief of state: President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12 August 2000); Vice President Jules Rattankoemar AJODHIA (since 12 August 2000); 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 Jules Rattankoemar AJODHIA (since 12 August 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly

elections: president and vice president elected by the National Assembly or, if no presidential or vice presidential candidate receives a constitutional majority in the National Assembly after two votes, by the larger People's Assembly (869 representatives from the national, local, and regional councils), for five-year terms; election last held 6 May 2000 (next to be held NA May 2005)

election results: Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN elected president by the National Assembly; percent of legislative vote - Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN 72.5%; Rashied DOEKHIE (NDP) 19.6%; total votes cast - Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (New Front) 37 votes, Rashied DOEKHIE (NDP) 10 votes

note: widespread demonstrations during the summer of 1999 led to the call for elections a year early

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 - NA%; seats by party - NF 33, MC 10, DNP 2000 3, DA '91 2, PVF 2, PALU 1

note: widespread demonstrations during the summer of 1999 led to the call for elections a year early

elections: last held 5 May 2000 (next to be held NA May 2005)

Judicial branch 

Court of Justice (justices are nominated for life)

Political parties and leaders 

Democratic Alternative '91 or DA '91 (a coalition of the Alternative Forum or AF and Party for Brotherhood and Unity in Politics or BEP, formed in January 1991) [S. RAMKHELAWAN]; Democratic National Platform 2000 or DNP 2000 (coalition of two parties, Democratic Party and Democrats of the 21st Century) [Jules WIJDENBOSCH]; Independent Progressive Democratic Alternative or OPDA [Joginder RAMKHILAWAN]; Millennium Combination or MC (a coalition of three parties, Democratic Alternative, Party for National Unity and Solidarity, and National Democratic Party) [leader NA]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Desire BOUTERSE]; Naya Kadam or NK [leader NA]; Party for Renewal and Democracy or BVD [Tjan GOBARDHAN]; Party of National Unity and Solidarity or KTPI [Willy SOEMITA]; Pertjaja Luhur [Paul SOMOHARDJO]; Progressive Workers' and Farm Laborers' Union or PALU [Ir Iwan KROLIS]; The New Front or NF (a coalition of four parties Suriname National Party or NPS, Progressive Reform Party or VHP, Suriname Labor Party or SPA, and Pertjaja Luhur) [Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN]; The Progressive Development Alliance (a combination of three parties, Renewed Progressive Party or HPP, Party of the Federation of Land Workers or PVF, and Suriname Progressive People's Party or PSV) [Harry KISOENSINGH]

Political pressure groups and leaders 

General Liberation and Development Party or ABOP [Ronnie BRUNSWIJK]; Mandela Bushnegro Liberation Movement [Leendert ADAMS]; Tucayana Amazonica [Alex JUBITANA, Thomas SABAJO]; Union for Liberation and Democracy [Kofi AFONGPONG]

International organization participation 

ACP, Caricom, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US 

chief of mission: Ambassador Henry Lothar ILLES

FAX: [1] (202) 244-5878

consulate(s) general: Miami

telephone: [1] (202) 244-7488

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

Diplomatic representation from the US 

chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel A. JOHNSON

embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo

mailing address: Department of State, 3390 Paramaribo Place, Washington, DC, 20521-3390

telephone: [597] 472900

FAX: [597] 420800

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

Economy - overview 

The economy is dominated by the bauxite industry, which accounts for more than 15% of GDP and 70% of export earnings. Suriname's economic prospects for the medium term will depend on renewed 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 has begun an austerity program, raised taxes, and attempted to control spending. The Dutch Government has restarted the aid flow, which will allow Suriname to access international development financing.

GDP 

purchasing power parity - $1.5 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate 

-5.5% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita 

purchasing power parity - $3,500 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector 

agriculture: 13%

industry: 22%

services: 65% (1998 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 

59% (2000) (2000)

Labor force 

100,000

Unemployment rate 

20% (1997) (1997)

Budget 

revenues: $393 million

expenditures: $403 million, including capital expenditures of $34 million

Industries 

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

Industrial production growth rate 

6.5% (1994 est.)

Electricity - production 

1.407 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source 

fossil fuel: 36%

hydro: 64%

Electricity - consumption 

1.309 billion kWh (2000)

Agriculture - products 

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

Exports 

$399 million f.o.b. (2000)

Exports - commodities 

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

Exports - partners 

US 23%, Norway 19%, Netherlands 11%, France, Japan, UK (1999)

Imports 

$525 million f.o.b. (1999)

Imports - commodities 

capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods

Imports - partners 

US 35%, Netherlands 15%, Trinidad and Tobago 12%, Japan, UK, Brazil (1999)

Debt - external 

$512 million (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient 

Netherlands provided $37 million for project and program assistance, European Development Fund $4 million, Belgium $2 million (1998)

Currency 

Surinamese Dollar(SRD)

Currency code 

SRD

Exchange rates 

Surinamese Dollar per US Dollar - 2.80 (2004)Surinamese guilders per US dollar - 2,178.50 (2001), 2,178.50 (2000), 987.50 (1999), 401.00 (1998), 401.00 (1997); note - yearend rates

note: beginning in July 1994, the central bank midpoint exchange rate was unified and became market determined; 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; the government currently allows trading within a band of SRG 500 around the official rate

Fiscal year 

calendar year

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use 

64,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular 

4,090 (1997)

Telephone system 

general assessment: international facilities are good

domestic: microwave radio relay network

international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations 

AM 4, FM 13, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios 

300,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations 

3 (plus seven repeaters) (2000)

Televisions 

63,000 (1997)

Internet country code 

.sr

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 

2 (2000)

Internet users 

14,500 (2002)

Transportation

Railways 

total: 166 km (single-track)

standard gauge: 80 km 1.435-m gauge

note: Suriname railroads are not in operation (2001)

narrow gauge: 86 km 1.000-m gauge

Highways 

total: 4,530 km

paved: 1,178 km

unpaved: 3,352 km (1996)

Waterways 

1,200 km

note: most important means of transport; oceangoing vessels with drafts ranging up to 7 m can navigate many of the principal waterways

Merchant marine 

total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,432 GRT/4,525 DWT

ships by type: cargo 1, container 1, petroleum tanker 1 (2002 est.)

Airports 

46 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways 

total: 5

over 3,047 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 4 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways 

total: 41

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 35 (2002)

Military

Military branches 

National Army (including small Navy and Air Force elements), Civil Police

Military manpower - availability 

males age 15-49: 123,072 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service 

males age 15-49: 72,059 (2002 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP 

1.6% (FY97 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international 

area disputed by French Guiana between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa); area disputed by Guyana between New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Koetari [Kutari] rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne); territorial sea boundary with Guyana is in dispute

Illicit drugs 

growing transshipment point for South American drugs destined for Europe and Brazil; transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing

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