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Suriname
South America :: Suriname
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| page last updated on
June 24, 2010 |
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Background:
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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
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; the coalition expanded to eight
parties in 2005.
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Location:
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Northern South America, bordering
the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana
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Geographic coordinates:
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4 00 N, 56 00 W
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Map references:
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South America
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Area:
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total: 163,820
sq km
land:
156,000 sq km
water:
7,820 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger than
Georgia
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Land boundaries:
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total: 1,703
km
border countries:
Brazil 593 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km
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Coastline:
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386 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12
nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
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Climate:
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Current Weather
tropical; moderated by
trade winds
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Terrain:
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mostly rolling hills;
narrow coastal plain with swamps
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: unnamed
location in the coastal plain -2 m
highest point:
Juliana Top 1,230 m
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Natural resources:
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timber, hydropower, fish,
kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold, and small amounts of nickel, copper,
platinum, iron ore
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Land use:
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arable land: 0.36%
permanent crops:
0.06%
other:
99.58% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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510 sq km (2003)
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Total
renewable water resources:
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122 cu km (2003)
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Freshwater
withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 0.67
cu km/yr (4%/3%/93%)
per capita:
1,489 cu m/yr (2000)
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Natural hazards:
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NA
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Environment
- current issues:
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deforestation as timber
is cut for export; pollution of inland waterways by small-scale mining
activities
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Environment - international agreements:
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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
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Geography - note:
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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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Population:
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486,618 (July 2010 est.)
2
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 26.8%
(male 66,648/female 63,874)
15-64 years:
66.9% (male 161,990/female 163,367)
65 years and over:
6.3% (male 13,158/female 17,581) (2010 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 28.3
years
male:
27.9 years
female:
28.7 years (2010 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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1.108% (2010 est.)
14
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Birth rate:
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16.61 births/1,000
population (2010 est.)
25
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Death rate:
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5.53 deaths/1,000
population (July 2010 est.)
5
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2010 est.)
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Urbanization:
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urban population: 75%
of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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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.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 18.19
deaths/1,000 live births
05
male:
21.48 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
14.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
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Life expectancy
at birth:
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total population: 73.98
years
03
male:
71.24 years
female:
76.91 years (2010 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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1.97 children born/woman
(2010 est.)
32
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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2.4% (2007 est.)
7
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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6,800 (2007 est.)
16
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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fewer than 500 (2003
est.)
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Major
infectious diseases:
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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)
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Nationality:
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noun: Surinamer(s)
adjective:
Surinamese
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Ethnic groups:
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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%
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Religions:
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Hindu 27.4%, Protestant
25.2% (predominantly Moravian), Roman Catholic 22.8%, Muslim 19.6%,
indigenous beliefs 5%
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Languages:
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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
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Literacy:
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definition: age
15 and over can read and write
total population:
89.6%
male:
92%
female:
87.2% (2004 census)
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School life expectancy (primary to
tertiary education):
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total: 12
years
male:
11 years
female:
13 years (2002)
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Education expenditures:
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NA
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Country name:
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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
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Government type:
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constitutional democracy
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Capital:
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name: Paramaribo
geographic coordinates:
5 50 N, 55 10 W
time difference:
UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
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Administrative
divisions:
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10 districts (distrikten,
singular - distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne,
Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica
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Independence:
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25 November 1975 (from
the Netherlands)
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 25
November (1975)
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Constitution:
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ratified 30 September
1987; effective 30 October 1987
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Legal system:
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based on Dutch legal
system incorporating French penal theory; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction with reservations
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age;
universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President
Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12 August 2000); Vice President Ramdien
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)
cabinet:
Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website  )
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
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
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National
Assembly or Nationale Assemblee (51 seats; members elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections:
last held on 25 May 2010 (next to be held in May
2015)
election results:
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
NA; note - official election results pending
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Judicial branch:
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Cantonal Courts and a
Court of Justice as an appellate court (justices are nominated for
life); member of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)
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Political
parties and leaders:
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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 that includes A-Combination or A-Com,
Democratic Alternative 1991 or DA-91, an independent, business-oriented
party [Winston JESSURUN], National Party Suriname or NPS [Ronald
VENETIAAN], United Reform Party or VHP [Ramdien 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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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Association of Indigenous
Village Chiefs [Ricardo PANE]; Association of Saramaccan Authorities or
Maroon [Head Captain WASE]; Women's Parliament Forum or PVF [Iris
GILLIAD]
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International organization participation:
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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, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador
Jacques Ruben Constantijn KROSS
chancery:
Suite 460, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington,
DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 244-7488
FAX:
[1] (202) 244-5878
consulate(s) general:
Miami
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador
John R. NAY
embassy:
Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo
mailing address:
US Department of State, PO Box 1821, Paramaribo
telephone:
[597] 472-900
FAX:
[597] 410-025
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Flag description:
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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
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Economy - overview:
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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. As trade picks up, Suriname's economic outlook
for 2010 has improved, but the government's budget is likely to remain
strained, with increased social spending in this election year.
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.
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GDP
(purchasing power parity):
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$4.274 billion (2009
est.)
63
$4.37
billion (2008 est.)
$4.123
billion (2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
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GDP
(official exchange rate):
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$3.184 billion (2009
est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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-2.2% (2009 est.)
49
6%
(2008 est.)
5.3%
(2007 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$9,000 (2009 est.)
13
$9,200
(2008 est.)
$8,800
(2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
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GDP -
composition by sector:
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agriculture: 10.8%
industry:
24.4%
services:
64.8% (2005 est.)
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Labor force:
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165,600 (2007)
7
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Labor force -
by occupation:
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agriculture: 8%
industry:
14%
services:
78% (2004)
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Unemployment rate:
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9.5% (2004)
14
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Population
below poverty line:
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70% (2002 est.)
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Household income or consumption by
percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%:
NA%
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Budget:
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revenues: $392.6
million
expenditures:
$425.9 million (2004)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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6.4% (2007 est.)
59
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Commercial bank prime lending rate:
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12.23% (31 December 2008)
9.71%
(31 December 2007)
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Stock of money:
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$484.7 million (31
December 2008)
30
$416.6
million (31 December 2007)
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Stock of quasi money:
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$1.018 billion (31
December 2008)
17
$824.4
million (31 December 2007)
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Stock of
domestic credit:
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$793.1 million (31
December 2008)
18
$651
million (31 December 2007)
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Market value of publicly traded shares:
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$NA
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Agriculture - products:
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paddy rice, bananas, palm
kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts; beef, chickens; shrimp; forest
products
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Industries:
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bauxite and gold mining,
alumina production; oil, lumbering, food processing, fishing
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Industrial production growth rate:
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6.5% (1994 est.)
5
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Electricity -
production:
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1.605 billion kWh (2007
est.)
38
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Electricity -
consumption:
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1.467 billion kWh (2007
est.)
40
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2008 est.)
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2008 est.)
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Oil - production:
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15,280 bbl/day (2008
est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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14,000 bbl/day (2008
est.)
41
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Oil - exports:
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4,308 bbl/day (2007 est.)
09
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Oil - imports:
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6,296 bbl/day (2007 est.)
51
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Oil - proved reserves:
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79.6 million bbl (1
January 2009 est.)
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Natural gas -
production:
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
24
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Natural gas -
consumption:
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
29
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
17
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
19
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Natural
gas - proved reserves:
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0 cu m (1 January 2009
est.)
30
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Current account balance:
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$24 million (2007 est.)
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Exports:
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$1.391 billion (2006
est.)
38
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Exports - commodities:
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alumina, gold, crude oil,
lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas
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Exports - partners:
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Canada 36.1%, Belgium
12.5%, Norway 12.4%, UAE 8.9%, US 7.7% (2008)
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Imports:
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$1.297 billion (2006
est.)
64
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Imports - commodities:
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capital equipment,
petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods
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Imports - partners:
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US 31.1%, Netherlands
15.5%, Trinidad and Tobago 14.1%, China 7.7%, Japan 6.4% (2008)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$263.3 million (2006)
46
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Debt - external:
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$504.3 million (2005
est.)
59
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Exchange rates:
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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
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| Communications
::Suriname |
Telephones - main lines in use:
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81,500 (2008)
48
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Telephones -
mobile cellular:
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416,000 (2008)
59
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: international
facilities are good
domestic:
combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular
teledensity exceed 100 telephones per 100 persons; microwave radio relay
network
international:
country code - 597; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
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Radio broadcast
stations:
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AM 4, FM 23, shortwave 3
(2008)
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Television
broadcast stations:
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3 (plus 7 repeaters)
(2000)
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Internet country code:
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.sr
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Internet hosts:
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162 (2009)
93
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Internet users:
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50,000 (2008)
0
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| Transportation
::Suriname |
Airports:
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50 (2009)
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Airports -
with paved runways:
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total: 5
over 3,047 m:
1
under 914 m:
4 (2009)
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Airports
- with unpaved runways:
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total: 45
914 to 1,523 m:
5
under 914 m:
40 (2009)
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Pipelines:
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oil 50 km (2009)
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Roadways:
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total: 4,304
km
54
paved:
1,130 km
unpaved:
3,174 km (2003)
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Waterways:
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1,200 km (most navigable
by ships with drafts up to 7 m) (2008)
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Merchant marine:
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total: 1
54
by type:
cargo 1 (2008)
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Ports and terminals:
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Paramaribo, Wageningen
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Military branches:
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National Army (Nationaal Leger, NL;
includes Naval Wing, Air Wing) (2010)
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Military service age and obligation:
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18 years of age (est.);
recruitment is voluntary, with personnel drawn almost exclusively from
the Creole community (2007)
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Manpower available for military service:
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males age 16-49: 133,417
females age 16-49:
133,487 (2010 est.)
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males age 16-49: 108,555
females age 16-49:
111,927 (2010 est.)
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Manpower reaching militarily significant age
annually:
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male: 4,046
female:
4,056 (2010 est.)
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Military expenditures:
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0.6% of GDP (2006 est.)
57
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| Transnational Issues
::Suriname |
Disputes -
international:
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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
(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:
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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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