from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Suriname
Introduction
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.
Geography
Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic
Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana
Geographic 4 00 N, 56 00 W
coordinates:
Map South America
references:
Area: total: 163,270 sq km
land: 161,470 sq km
water: 1,800 sq km
Area - slightly larger than Georgia
comparative:
Land total: 1,707 km
boundaries: border countries: Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km,
Guyana 600 km
Coastline: 386 km
Maritime territorial sea: 12 nm
claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds
Terrain: mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps
Elevation lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2
extremes: m
highest point: Juliana Top 1,230 m
Natural timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite,
resources: gold, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum,
iron ore
Land use: arable land: 0.36%
permanent crops: 0.06%
other: 99.58% (2005)
Irrigated 510 sq km (2003)
land:
Natural NA
hazards:
Environment - deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of
current inland waterways by small-scale mining activities
issues:
Environment - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
international Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea,
agreements: Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements
Geography - smallest independent country on South American
note: 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
Population: 439,117 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 29% (male 65,412/female 62,069)
15-64 years: 64.7% (male 145,913/female 138,076)
65 years and over: 6.3% (male 12,223/female 15,424)
(2006 est.)
Median age: total: 26.5 years
male: 26 years
female: 26.9 years (2006 est.)
Population 0.2% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 18.02 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 7.27 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration -8.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 23.02 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 26.89 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 18.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 69.01 years
expectancy at male: 66.66 years
birth: female: 71.47 years (2006 est.)
Total 2.32 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 1.7% (2001 est.)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 5,200 (2001 est.)
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - less than 500 (2003 est.)
deaths:
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%, Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian),
Roman Catholic 22.8%, Muslim 19.6%, indigenous beliefs
5%
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
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88%
male: 92.3%
female: 84.1% (2000 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Suriname
conventional short form: Suriname
local long form: Republiek Suriname
local short form: Suriname
former: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana
Government constitutional democracy
type:
Capital: name: Paramaribo
geographic coordinates: 5 50 N, 55 10 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC
during Standard Time)
Administrative 10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt);
divisions: Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie,
Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica
Independence: 25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)
National Independence Day, 25 November (1975)
holiday:
Constitution: ratified 30 September 1987
Legal system: based on Dutch legal system incorporating French penal
theory; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive chief of state: President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN
branch: (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 unicameral National Assembly or Nationale Assemblee (51
branch: 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 Cantonal Courts and a Court of Justice as an appellate
branch: court (justices are nominated for life)
Political Alternative-1 or A-1 (a coalition of Amazone Party of
parties and Suriname or APS [Kenneth VAN GENDEREN], Democrats of
leaders: 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]
Political Association of Indigenous Village Chiefs [Ricardo
pressure PANE]; Association of Saramaccan Authorities or Maroon
groups and [Head Captain WASE]; Women's Parliament Forum or PVF
leaders: [Iris GILLIAD]
International ACP, Caricom, CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
organization ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO (suspended), ILO, IMF, IMO,
participation: Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC,
OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Henry Lothar ILLES
representation chancery: Suite 460, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW,
in the US: Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 244-7488
FAX: [1] (202) 244-5878
consulate(s) general: Miami
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Lisa Bobbie SCHREIBER
representation HUGHES
from the US: embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo
mailing address: US Department of State, 3390
Paramaribo Place, Washington, DC, 20521-3390
telephone: [597] 472-900
FAX: [597] 425-690
Flag five horizontal bands of green (top, double width),
description: white, red (quadruple width), white, and green (double
width); there is a large, yellow, five-pointed star
centered in the red band
Economy
Economy - The economy is dominated by the mining industry, which
overview: 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.
GDP $2.893 billion (2005 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $1.3 billion (2005 est.)
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 5% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $6,600 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 13%
composition by industry: 22%
sector: services: 65% (2001)
Labor force: 156,700 (2004)
Labor force - agriculture: 8%
by occupation: industry: 14%
services: 78%
Unemployment 9.5% (2004)
rate:
Population 70% (2002 est.)
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: NA%
income or highest 10%: NA%
consumption by
percentage
share:
Inflation rate 9.5% (2005 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Budget: revenues: $392.6 million
expenditures: $425.9 million (2004)
Agriculture - paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains,
products: peanuts; beef, chickens; shrimp; forest products
Industries: bauxite and gold mining, alumina production; oil,
lumbering, food processing, fishing
Industrial 6.5% (1994 est.)
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 2.014 billion kWh (2003)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 25.2%
production by hydro: 74.8%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - 1.873 billion kWh (2003)
consumption:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
imports:
Oil - 12,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
production:
Oil - 14,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: 1,370 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - imports: 1,644 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - proved 150 million bbl (2005)
reserves:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2005)
proved
reserves:
Exports: $881 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - alumina, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice,
commodities: bananas
Exports - Norway 23.5%, US 16.5%, Canada 16.1%, Belgium 9.7%,
partners: France 7.9%, UAE 7.3% (2005)
Imports: $750 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton,
commodities: consumer goods
Imports - US 29.3%, Netherlands 17.5%, Trinidad and Tobago 12.7%,
partners: China 6.5%, Japan 5.2% (2005)
Debt - $504.3 million (2005 est.)
external:
Economic aid - $46 million Netherlands provided $37 million for
recipient: project and program assistance, European Development
Fund $4 million, Belgium $2 million (2003)
Currency Surinam dollar (SRD)
(code):
Currency code: SRG
Exchange Surinamese dollars per US dollar - 2.7317 (2005),
rates: 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
floated the guilder, but subsequently fixed it when the
black-market rate plunged; in January 2004, the
government introduced the Surinamese dollar as
replacement for the guilder, tied to a US
dollar-dominated currency basket
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones - 81,100 (2004)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 232,800 (2005)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: international facilities are good
system: domestic: microwave radio relay network
international: country code - 597; satellite earth
stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio AM 4, FM 13, shortwave 1 (1998)
broadcast
stations:
Radios: 300,000 (1997)
Television 3 (plus seven repeaters) (2000)
broadcast
stations:
Televisions: 63,000 (1997)
Internet .sr
country code:
Internet 126 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 2 (2000)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 30,000 (2005)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 47 (2006)
Airports - total: 5
with paved over 3,047 m: 1
runways: under 914 m: 4 (2006)
Airports - total: 42
with unpaved 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
runways: 914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 36 (2006)
Pipelines: oil 51 km (2006)
Roadways: total: 4,492 km
paved: 1,168 km
unpaved: 3,324 km (2002)
Waterways: 1,200 km (most navigable by ships with drafts up to 7
m) (2005)
Merchant total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 1,078 GRT/1,214 DWT
marine: by type: cargo 1 (2006)
Ports and Paramaribo
terminals:
Military
Military National Army, Naval Element, Air Wing (2006)
branches:
Military 18 years of age (est.); no conscription
service age
and
obligation:
Manpower males age 18-49: 111,582
available for females age 18-49: 103,769 (2005 est.)
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 18-49: 77,793
for military females age 18-49: 72,943 (2005 est.)
service:
Military $7.5 million (2003 est.)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 0.7% (2003 est.)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - area claimed by French Guiana between Riviere Litani
international: 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
Illicit drugs: growing transshipment point for South American drugs
destined for Europe via the Netherlands and Brazil;
transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing