Quick Data on Suriname
Short Name | Suriname |
Capital | Paramaribo |
Long Name | Republic of Suriname |
Country Code | NS |
Continent | South America |
Total Area | 163,820 sq km |
Population | 609,569 |
Language | Dutch |
Nationality | Surinamer(s) |
Geography of Suriname
As a country in South America, with coordinates at 4 00 N, 56 00 W, Suriname neighbors Brazil 515 km, French Guiana 556 km, Guyana 836 km. The terrain in Suriname is described as mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps, with an average elevation point of 246 m. The climate of Suriname: tropical; moderated by trade winds.
Surface Total | 163,820 sq km |
Land Surface | 156,000 sq km |
Water Surface | 7,820 sq km |
Land Boundaries | 1,907 km |
Neighbor Countries | Brazil 515 km, French Guiana 556 km, Guyana 836 km |
Coastline | 386 km |
Lowest Elevation Point | unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m |
Highest Elevation Point | Juliana Top 1,230 m |
Resources of Suriname
The country enjoys many types of natural resources, with the main ones being timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore. The agricultural land occupies 0.50% of Suriname, while the land covered with forests is estimated at 94.60%.
Percent of Total Land | Surface Sq km | Data | |
Agricultural Land | 0.50% | 780 sq km | 2011 est. |
Irrigated Land | 570 sq km | 2012 | |
Forest Land | 94.60% | 147,576 sq km | 2011 est. |
Other Land | 4.90% | 7,644 sq km | 2011 est. |
Population of Suriname
The population of the country is estimated at 609,569 people, with the biggest urban area having 239,000 PARAMARIBO (capital) (2018). Known as Surinamer(s), the people from Suriname come from diversified ethnic groups such as Hindustani (also known locally as “East Indians”; their ancestors emigrated from northern India in the latter part of the 19th century) 27.4%, “Maroon” (their African ancestors were brought to the country in the 17th and 18th centuries as slaves and escaped to the interior) 21.7%, Creole (mixed white and black) 15.7%, Javanese 13.7%, mixed 13.4%, other 7.6%, unspecified 0.6% (2012 est.). The official language is Dutch. Religions: Protestant 23.6% (includes Evangelical 11.2%, Moravian 11.2%, Reformed .7%, Lutheran .5%), Hindu 22.3%, Roman Catholic 21.6%, Muslim 13.8%, other Christian 3.2%, Winti 1.8%, Jehovah’s Witness 1.2%, other 1.7%, none 7.5%, unspecified 3.2% (2012 est.).
Population | 609,569 |
Nationality | Surinamer(s) |
Official Language | Dutch |
Other Languages | Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang Tongo (Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is the native language of Creoles and much of the younger population and is lingua franca among others), Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese |
Birth Rate | 14.9 births / 1000 population (2020 est.) |
Death Rate | 6.2 deaths / 1000 population (2020 est.) |
Urban Population | 66.10% of total population (2020) |
Physicians Density | 1.23 physicians/1,000 population (2018) |
Hospital Beds Density | 3 beds/1,000 population (2017) |
Governing Type of Suriname
Suriname is a presidential republic. The legal system makes use of civil law system influenced by Dutch civil law; note – a new criminal code was enacted in 2017.
Governing Type | presidential republic |
Citizenship by Birth | no |
Citizenship by Descent | at least one parent must be a citizen of Suriname |
Dual Citizenship | no |
Residency Requirement for Naturalization | 5 years |
Suffrage Vote | 18 years of age; universal |
Economy of Suriname
From a population total of 609,569, the labor force is 144,000 (2014 est.). The main products in agriculture are: rice, bananas, seabob shrimp, yellow-fin tuna, vegetables. Among the main industries considerable for the economy are: gold mining, oil, lumber, food processing, fishing. Its exports cover alumina, gold, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas. The main import products are: capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods.
Exports | $2.028 billion (2017 est.) |
Imports | $1.293 billion (2017 est.) |
Export Partners | Switzerland 38%, Hong Kong 21.9%, Belgium 10.1%, UAE 7.2%, Guyana 6.1% (2017) |
Import Partners | US 30.6%, Netherlands 14.8%, Trinidad and Tobago 11.4%, China 7.6% (2017) |
GDP / Capita | $14,900 (2017 est.) |
Electricity Production | 1.967 billion kWh (2016 est.) |
Electrification Rate | electrification – total population: 87.2% (2016) |
Internet Users | 265,964 |
Internet Penetration Rate | 45.40% (July 2016 est.) |
For latest imports and exports data we recommend checking the website for the National Bank of Suriname, statistics sectio