Introduction :: SURINAME
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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.
Geography :: SURINAME
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Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana
4 00 N, 56 00 W
South America
total: 163,820 sq km
land: 156,000 sq km
water: 7,820 sq km
country comparison to the world: 92
slightly larger than Georgia
total: 1,907 km
border countries (3): Brazil 515 km, French Guiana 556 km, Guyana 836 km
386 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
tropical; moderated by trade winds
mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps
lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m
highest point: Juliana Top 1,230 m
timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore
agricultural land: 0.5%
arable land 0.4%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0.1%
forest: 94.6%
other: 4.9% (2011 est.)
511.8 sq km (2003)
122 cu km (2011)
total: 0.67 cu km/yr (6%/4%/90%)
per capita: 1,396 cu m/yr (2006)
NA
deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of inland waterways by small-scale mining activities
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
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 and Society :: SURINAME
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noun: Surinamer(s)
adjective: Surinamese
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%
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
Hindu 27.4%, Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian), Roman Catholic 22.8%, Muslim 19.6%, indigenous beliefs 5%
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.
579,633 (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
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.)
population pyramid:
total dependency ratio: 50.8%
youth dependency ratio: 40.4%
elderly dependency ratio: 10.4%
potential support ratio: 9.6% (2015 est.)
total: 28.6 years
male: 28.3 years
female: 29 years (2014 est.)
1.08% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
16.34 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
6.13 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
0.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
urban population: 66% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 0.78% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
PARAMARIBO (capital) 234,000 (2014)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
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
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
total: 26.17 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 30.48 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
total population: 71.97 years
male: 69.57 years
female: 74.48 years (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
1.97 children born/woman (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
47.6% (2010)
3.1 beds/1,000 population (2010)
improved:
urban: 98.1% of population
rural: 88.4% of population
total: 94.8% of population
unimproved:
urban: 1.9% of population
rural: 11.6% of population
total: 5.2% of population (2015 est.)
improved:
urban: 88.4% of population
rural: 61.4% of population
total: 79.2% of population
unimproved:
urban: 11.6% of population
rural: 38.6% of population
total: 20.8% of population (2015 est.)
0.88% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
3,200 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
100 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
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)
26.1% (2014)
country comparison to the world: 60
5.8% (2010)
country comparison to the world: 83
NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.6%
male: 96.1%
female: 95% (2015 est.)
total number: 6,094
percentage: 6% (2006 est.)
total: 21.5% (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Government :: SURINAME
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conventional long form: Republic of Suriname
conventional short form: Suriname
local long form: Republiek Suriname
local short form: Suriname
former: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana
constitutional democracy
name: Paramaribo
geographic coordinates: 5 50 N, 55 10 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica
25 November 1975 (from the Netherlands)
Independence Day, 25 November (1975)
previous 1975; latest ratified 30 September 1987, effective 30 October 1987; amended 1992; note - in 2012, the president appointed a commission to revise the constitution (2012)
civil law system influenced by Dutch civil law; note - the Commissie Nieuw Surinaamse Burgerlijk Wetboek completed drafting a new civil code in February 2009
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: President Desire Delano BOUTERSE (since 12 August 2010); Vice President Robert AMEERALI (since 12 August 2010); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Desire Delano BOUTERSE (since 12 August 2010); Vice President Robert AMEERALI (since 12 August 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
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)
election results: Desire Delano BOUTERSE reelected president; National Assembly vote - NA
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)
elections: last held on 25 May 2010 (next to be held in May 2015)
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
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
A-Combination (a coalition that includes the General Liberation and Development Party ABOP [Ronnie BRUNSWIJK], and SEEKA [Paul ABENA])
Basic Party for Renewal and Democracy or PVF [Soede Chand JAIRAM]
Democratic Union Suriname or DUS [Japhet DIEKO]
Mega Combination 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 Delano 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], Union of Brotherhood and Unity in Politics BEP [Caprino ALENDY], and New Suriname or NS [Nanan PANDAY])
National Democratic Party or NDP [Desire Delano BOUTERSE]
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 [Chas MIJNALS]
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 election as a coalition (BVD/PVF) in the most recent elections, but separated after the election
Association of Indigenous Village Chiefs [Ricardo PANE]
Association of Saramaccan Authorities or Maroon [Head Captain WASE]
Women's Parliament Forum or PVF [Iris GILLIAD]
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
chief of mission: Ambassador Subhas-Chandra MUNGRA (since 28 January 2011)
chancery: Suite 460, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 244-7488
FAX: [1] (202) 244-5878
consulate(s) general: Miami
chief of mission: Ambassador Jay N. ANANIA (since 1 October 2012)
embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo
mailing address: US Department of State, PO Box 1821, Paramaribo
telephone: [597] 472-900
FAX: [597] 410-972
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
royal palm, faya lobi (flower); national colors: green, white, red, yellow
name: "God zij met ons Suriname!" (God Be With Our Suriname)
lyrics/music: Cornelis Atses HOEKSTRA and Henry DE ZIEL/Johannes Corstianus DE PUY
note: adopted 1959; originally adapted from a Sunday school song written in 1893 and contains lyrics in both Dutch and Sranang Tongo
Economy :: SURINAME
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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.
$9.188 billion (2014 est.)
$8.929 billion (2013 est.)
$8.577 billion (2012 est.)
note: data are in 2014 US dollars
country comparison to the world: 159
$5.297 billion (2014 est.)
NA% (2014 est.)
4.1% (2013 est.)
4.8% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
$16,600 (2014 est.)
$16,200 (2013 est.)
$15,500 (2012 est.)
note: data are in 2014 US dollars
country comparison to the world: 94
household consumption: 55.5%
government consumption: 11.4%
investment in fixed capital: 12.1%
investment in inventories: 23%
exports of goods and services: 29.3%
imports of goods and services: -31.3%
(2014 est.)
agriculture: 8.6%
industry: 37.3%
services: 54.1% (2014 est.)
rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts; beef, chickens; shrimp; forest products
bauxite and gold mining, alumina production; oil, lumbering, food processing, fishing
5% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
165,600 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
agriculture: 11.2%
industry: 19.5%
services: 69.3% (2010)
8.9% (2014 est.)
8.5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
70% (2002 est.)
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $1.156 billion
expenditures: $1.383 billion (2014 est.)
21.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
-4.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
calendar year
3.4% (2014 est.)
1.9% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
10% (2013)
9% (2012)
12.5% (31 December 2014 est.)
12% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
$1.484 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$1.353 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
$3.282 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$2.736 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
$2 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$1.669 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
$NA
-$189 million (2014 est.)
-$198 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
$2.515 billion (2014 est.)
$2.395 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
alumina, gold, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas
US 25.5%, Belgium 16.7%, UAE 13%, Canada 10.6%, Guyana 6.2%, France 5.4%, Barbados 4.5% (2013)
$2.147 billion (2014 est.)
$2.126 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods
US 21.6%, Netherlands 13.6%, Italy 8.6%, China 8.3%, UAE 7.5%, Antigua and Barbuda 6.5%, Netherlands Antilles 4.8% (2013)
$775.4 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
$1.037 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$983 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
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.)
Energy :: SURINAME
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1.6 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
1.475 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
0 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
0 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
412,000 kW (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
54.1% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
45.9% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
15,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
7,621 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
0.66 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
76.7 million bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
7,462 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
15,050 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
1,015 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
6,454 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
0 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
0 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
0 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
0 cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
2.268 million Mt (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Communications :: SURINAME
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total subscriptions: 84,900
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
total: 927,800
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 162 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
general assessment: international facilities are good
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity 185 telephones per 100 persons; microwave radio relay network
international: country code - 597; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2010)
2 state-owned TV stations; 1 state-owned radio station; multiple private radio and TV stations (2007)
AM 4, FM 23, shortwave 3 (2008)
3 (plus 7 repeaters) (2000)
.sr
total: 212,900
percent of population: 37.1% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Transportation :: SURINAME
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55 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 85
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 5 (2013)
total: 49
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m:
45 (2013)
oil 50 km (2013)
total: 4,304 km
paved: 1,130 km
unpaved: 3,174 km (2003)
country comparison to the world: 155
1,200 km (most navigable by ships with drafts up to 7 m) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 58
major seaport(s): Paramaribo, Wageningen
Military :: SURINAME
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Suriname Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air Forces (2010)
18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription; personnel drawn almost exclusively from the Creole community (2012)
males age 16-49: 134,218
females age 16-49: 134,439 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 109,445
females age 16-49: 112,538 (2010 est.)
male: 4,119
female: 4,106 (2010 est.)
Transnational Issues :: SURINAME
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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
current situation: Suriname is a source and destination country for women, men, and children who are 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)
growing transshipment point for South American drugs destined for Europe via the Netherlands and Brazil; transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing