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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.sr

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

162 (2009) country comparison to the world: 193

Internet users [time series]

50,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 170

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 4, FM 13, shortwave 1 (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

81,500 (2008) country comparison to the world: 149

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

416,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 159

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

3 (plus 7 repeaters) (2000)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $392.6 million expenditures: $425.9 million (2004)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

12.23% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 89 9.71% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance [time series]

$24 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 60

Debt - external [time series]

$504.3 million (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 164

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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. Prospects for local onshore oil production are good, and a drilling program is underway. Offshore oil drilling was given a boost in 2004 when the State Oil Company (Staatsolie) signed exploration agreements with several Western oil companies. Bidding on these new offshore blocks was completed in July 2006. 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, though investment in these projects may slow with the tightening of global credit markets. Suriname has received aid for these projects from Netherlands, Belgium, and the European Development Fund. 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. 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. The VENETIAAN administration also has created a stabilization fund to insulate future revenue from commodity shocks. These economic policies are likely to remain in effect during VENETIAAN's third term.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

1.467 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

1.605 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

$1.391 billion (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

Canada 36.2%, Belgium 12.5%, Norway 12.4%, UAE 8.9%, US 7.7% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$2.933 billion (2008 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$4.226 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 164 $3.987 billion (2007 est.) $3.779 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 10.8% industry: 24.4% services: 64.8% (2005 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$8,900 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 113 $8,500 (2007 est.) $8,100 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 61 5.5% (2007 est.) 4.8% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$1.297 billion (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Imports - commodities [time series]

capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods

Imports - partners [time series]

US 31.2%, Netherlands 15.5%, Trinidad and Tobago 14.2%, China 7.7%, Japan 6.4% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

6.5% (1994 est.) country comparison to the world: 33

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

6.4% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 110

Labor force [time series]

165,600 (2007) country comparison to the world: 171

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 8% industry: 14% services: 78% (2004)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 140

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 150

Oil - consumption [time series]

14,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Oil - exports [time series]

4,308 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Oil - imports [time series]

6,296 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 150

Oil - production [time series]

15,280 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

79.6 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 72

Population below poverty line [time series]

70% (2002 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$263.3 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 142

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$793.1 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 112 $651 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of money) [time series]

$484.7 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 95 $416.6 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of quasi money) [time series]

$1.018 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 95 $824.4 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate [time series]

9.5% (2004) country comparison to the world: 122

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 163,820 sq km country comparison to the world: 91 land: 156,000 sq km water: 7,820 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly larger than Georgia

Climate [time series]

tropical; moderated by trade winds

Coastline [time series]

386 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m highest point: Juliana Top 1,230 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of inland waterways by small-scale mining activities

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 0.67 cu km/yr (4%/3%/93%) per capita: 1,489 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates [time series]

4 00 N, 56 00 W

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

510 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 1,703 km border countries: Brazil 593 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 0.36% permanent crops: 0.06% other: 99.58% (2005)

Location [time series]

Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana

Map references [time series]

South America

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps

Total renewable water resources [time series]

122 cu km (2003)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

name: Paramaribo geographic coordinates: 5 50 N, 55 10 W time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution [time series]

ratified 30 September 1987; effective 30 October 1987

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Suriname conventional short form: Suriname local long form: Republiek Suriname local short form: Suriname former: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Lisa Bobbie SCHREIBER HUGHES embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo mailing address: US Department of State, PO Box 1821, Paramaribo telephone: [597] 472-900 FAX: [597] 410-025

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

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

Executive branch [time series]

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 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

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

constitutional democracy

Independence [time series]

25 November 1975 (from the Netherlands)

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, Caricom, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO (suspended), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

Cantonal Courts and a Court of Justice as an appellate court (justices are nominated for life); member of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)

Legal system [time series]

based on Dutch legal system incorporating French penal theory; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National Assembly or Nationale Assemblee (51 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 25 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - NF 39.7%, NDP 22.2%, VVV 13.8%, A-Com 7.2%, A-1 5.9%, other 11.2%; seats by party - NF 23, NDP 15, VVV 5, A-Com 5, A-1 3

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 25 November (1975)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

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]

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Association of Indigenous Village Chiefs [Ricardo PANE]; Association of Saramaccan Authorities or Maroon [Head Captain WASE]; Women's Parliament Forum or PVF [Iris GILLIAD]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 130,534 females age 16-49: 130,243 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 107,367 females age 16-49: 111,000 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 4,251 female: 4,265 (2009 est.)

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

National Army (Nationaal Leger, NL; includes Naval Wing, Air Wing) (2007)

Military expenditures [time series]

0.6% of GDP (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 156

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age (est.); recruitment is voluntary, with personnel drawn almost exclusively from the Creole community (2007)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 27.1% (male 66,603/female 64,035) 15-64 years: 66.6% (male 159,525/female 160,871) 65 years and over: 6.3% (male 13,004/female 17,229) (2009 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

16.8 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Death rate [time series]

5.51 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

Ethnic groups [time series]

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%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

2.4% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 27

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

fewer than 500 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

6,800 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 18.81 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 109 male: 22.21 deaths/1,000 live births female: 15.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 73.73 years country comparison to the world: 97 male: 71 years female: 76.65 years (2009 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89.6% male: 92% female: 87.2% (2004 census)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

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)

Median age [time series]

total: 27.9 years male: 27.5 years female: 28.3 years (2009 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Surinamer(s) adjective: Surinamese

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 99

Population [time series]

481,267 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 170

Population growth rate [time series]

1.103% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Religions [time series]

Hindu 27.4%, Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian), Roman Catholic 22.8%, Muslim 19.6%, indigenous beliefs 5%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 12 years male: 11 years female: 13 years (2002)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.99 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 130

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 75% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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

Illicit drugs [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

50 (2009) country comparison to the world: 91

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 4 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 45 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 40 (2009)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 1 country comparison to the world: 151 by type: cargo 1 (2008)

Pipelines [time series]

oil 50 km (2008)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Paramaribo, Wageningen

Roadways [time series]

total: 4,304 km country comparison to the world: 154 paved: 1,130 km unpaved: 3,174 km (2003)

Waterways [time series]

1,200 km (most navigable by ships with drafts up to 7 m) (2008) country comparison to the world: 61