Suriname
Country Guide

Explore Suriname

Suriname with its capital Paramaribo is located in South America (Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean). It covers some 163,821 square kilometers (slightly larger than Georgia) with a population of 591,919. Dutch, English and Javanese are some of the languages spoken by the majority in Suriname (consider regional differences). Brazil, French Guiana and Guyana are bordering countries.

Surinameformerly the colony of Netherlands Guiana or Dutch Guiana, is a country in Northern South America. With almost a third of the country being declared national reserves, Suriname's main tourist attraction are its vast natural lands and the diversity of flora and fauna in them. Head to the beaches of Galibi and Albina to witness the impressive breeding process of large Leatherback sea turtles, or book a helicopter ride to one of the more remote beaches to see the same, with fewer people around. Spot river dolphins on the way and see the typical mangrove forests between the ocean and the rain forests.

Popular Destinations in Suriname

Administrative regions of Suriname

• Distrikt Brokopondo
• Distrikt Commewijne
• Distrikt Coronie
• Distrikt Marowijne
• Distrikt Nickerie
• Distrikt Para
• Distrikt Paramaribo
• Distrikt Saramacca
• Distrikt Sipaliwini
• Distrikt Wanica

About the country

The terrain is mostly rolling hills having narrow coastal plain with swamps. The average density of population is about 4 per km². The climate in Suriname can be described as tropical with moderated by trade winds. Possible natural disasters include flooding.

To reach someone Suriname dial +597 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".sr". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 127 V / 230 V - 60 Hz (plugs: A, B, C, F). The sign for the locally used currency Dollar is SRD.

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.

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 Suriname 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. President BOUTERSE was reelected unopposed in 2015.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 93)	163,820	sq km
Land (World Rank: 91)	156,000	sq km
Water (World Rank: 58)	7,820	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 201)	0.10	%
Comparative	slightly larger than Georgia
Coastline
386
Landborder
1907
Elevation
Lowest point (World Rank: 41)	-2	m
Highest point (World Rank: 154)	1,230	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 223)	0.50	%
Arable (World Rank: 211)	0.40	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 201)	0.10	%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 113)	570	sq km
Map reference
South America
Environment
Issues	- deforestation as timber is cut for export - pollution of inland waterways by small-scale mining activities
Agreement party	- 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
Hazzards	flooding
Location
Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana
Climate
tropical; moderated by trade winds
Terrain
mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 171)	591,919
Deathrate (World Rank: 156)	0.61	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 116)	1.58	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 110)	1.02	%
Migration rate (World Rank: 61)	0.06	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 128)	1.93	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 115)	29.40
Female (World Rank: 114)	30.20
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 169)	74,247
0 14 female (World Rank: 169)	71,456
15 24 male (World Rank: 169)	52,599
15 24 female (World Rank: 169)	50,618
25 54 male (World Rank: 167)	133,835
25 54 female (World Rank: 167)	128,980
55 64 male (World Rank: 167)	21,940
55 64 female (World Rank: 165)	22,697
65 x male (World Rank: 167)	15,394
65 x female (World Rank: 168)	20,153
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 69)	2.45	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 145)	73	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 147)	75	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 142)	70	years
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 72)	3.10
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 125)	79.20	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 41)	26.40	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 112)	94.80	%

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 136)	2,190,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 144)	1,948,000,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 144)	54.70	%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 45)	43.40	%
Source renew (World Rank: 119)	1.80	%
Crude oil
Production (World Rank: 72)	17,000	bbl / day
Proved reserves (World Rank: 73)	83,980,000	bbl
Refined products
Production (World Rank: 101)	7,632	bbl / day
Consumption (World Rank: 151)	14,000	bbl / day
Export (World Rank: 82)	10,620	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 142)	9,938	bbl / day
Natural gas
Consumption (World Rank: 161)	6	m³
Carbon footprint
2400000

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Nation

Budget
Health (World Rank: 113)	6	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 185)	-8	% of GDP
National symbol
royal palm
National colours
yellow
Adjective
Surinamese
Noun
Surinamer(s)
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 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 Suriname 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. President BOUTERSE was reelected unopposed in 2015.
Flag description
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

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 163)	7,885,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 216)	-10.50	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 111)	14,000	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 82)	11.80	%
Source industry (World Rank: 72)	30.70	%
Source service (World Rank: 142)	57.50	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 176)	144,000
In poverty (World Rank: 5)	70.00	%
Products
Industries	- alumina production - bauxite - fishing - food processing - gold mining - lumbering - oil
Agriculture	- bananas - beef - chickens - coconuts - forest products - palm kernels - peanuts - plantains - rice - shrimp
Exports	- alumina - bananas - crude oil - fish - gold - lumber - rice - shrimp
Imports	- capital equipment - consumer goods - cotton - foodstuffs - petroleum

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 143)	89,030
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 114)	15.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 41)	138.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 161)	265,964
Population (World Rank: 131)	45.40	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 142)	6.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 61)	49.00
Road
Total length (World Rank: 154)	4,304
Paved length (World Rank: 139)	1,130
Unpaved length (World Rank: 112)	3,174
Water
Total length (World Rank: 62)	1,200

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