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| Geography |
| 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 |
| Location: | Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana |
| Geographic coordinates: | 4 00 N, 56 00 W |
| Area: | total: 163,820 sq km land: 156,000 sq km water: 7,820 sq km
Size comparison: slightly larger than Georgia |
| Land Boundaries: | total: 1,703 km border countries: Brazil 593 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km |
| Coastline: | 386 km |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
| Climate: | tropical; moderated by trade winds |
| Terrain: | mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m highest point: Juliana Top 1,230 m |
| Natural resources: | timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, 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 land: | 510 sq km (2003) |
| Natural hazards: | NA |
| Current Environment Issues: | deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of inland waterways by small-scale mining activities |
| International Environment Agreements: | 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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| People |
| Population: | 566,846 (July 2013 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 26.8% (male 77,404/female 74,477) 15-24 years: 17.5% (male 50,745/female 48,718) 25-54 years: 43.8% (male 126,399/female 121,930) 55-64 years: 6.2% (male 17,123/female 18,246) 65 years and over: 5.6% (male 13,770/female 18,034) (2013 est.) population pyramid: |
| Median age: | total: 27.6 years male: 27.3 years female: 28 years (2012 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 1.222% (2012 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 17.44 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Death rate: | 6.17 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 0.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 28.94 deaths/1,000 live births male: 33.62 deaths/1,000 live births female: 24.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 71.12 years male: 68.78 years female: 73.58 years (2012 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 2.04 children born/woman (2013 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 1% (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 3,700 (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | fewer than 200 (2009 est.) |
| 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), Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89.6% male: 92% female: 87.2% (2004 census) |
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| 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 type: | constitutional democracy |
| 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 divisions: | 10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica |
| Independence: | 25 November 1975 (from the Netherlands) |
| National holiday: | Independence Day, 25 November (1975) |
| Constitution: | ratified 30 September 1987; effective 30 October 1987 |
| Legal system: | civil law system influenced by Dutch civil law; note - the Commissie Nieuw Surinaamse Burgerlijk Wetboek completed drafting a new civil code in February 2009 |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: President Desire Delano BOUTERSE (since 12 August 2010); Vice President Robert AMEERALI (since 12 August 2010); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Desire Delano BOUTERSE (since 12 August 2010); Vice President Robert AMEERALI (since 12 August 2010) 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 19 July 2010 (next to be held in 2015) election results: Desire Delano BOUTERSE elected president; percent of vote - Desire Delano BOUTERSE 70.6%, Chandrikapersad SATOKHI 25.5%, other 3.9% |
| Legislative branch: | 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 - Mega Combination 45.1%, New Front 27.5%, A-Com 13.7%, People's Alliance 11.8%, DOE 1.9%; seats by party - Mega Combination 23, New Front 14, A-Com 7, People's Alliance 6, DOE 1 |
| Judicial branch: | Cantonal Courts and a Court of Justice as an appellate court (justices are nominated for life); member of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) |
| Political parties and leaders: | A-Combination (a coalition that includes the General Liberation and Development Party ABOP [Ronnie BRUNSWIJK], and SEEKA [Paul ABENA]); Basic Party for Renewal and Democracy or BVD [Dilip SARDJOE]; Basic Party for Renewal and Democracy or PVF [Soedeschand JAIRAM]; Democratic Union Suriname or DUS [Japhet DIEKO]; Mega Combination Coalition (a coalition that joined with A-Combination and the PL to form a majority in Parliament in 2010 - includes the National Democratic Party or NDP [Desire BOUTERSE] (largest party in the coalition), Progressive Worker and Farmer's Union or PALU [Jim HOK], Party for National Unity and Solidarity of the Highest Order or KTPI [Willy SOEMITA], DNP-2000 [Jules WIJDENBOSCH], Union of Brotherhood and Unity in Politics BEP [Caprino ALENDY], and New Suriname or NS [Nanan PANDAY]); National Union or NU [P. VAN LEEUWAARDE]; New Front for Democracy and Development or NF (a coalition made up of the National Party of Suriname or NPS [Runaldo VENETIAAN], United Reform Party or VHP [Ramdien SARDJOE], Democratic Alternative 1991 or DA-91 - an independent, business-oriented party [Winston JESSURUN], Surinamese Labor Party or SPA [Siegfried GILDS]); Party for Democracy and Development in Unity or DOE [Carl BREEVELD]; Party for the Permanent Prosperity Republic Suriname or PVRS [NA]; People's Alliance, Pertjaja Luhur's or PL [Paul SOMOHARDJO](includes D-21 [Soewarta MOESTADJA] and Pendawa Lima [Raymond SAPEON], which merged with PL in 2010) note: BVD and PVF participated in the elections as a coalition (BVD/PVF) in the most recent elections, but separated after the election |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Association of Indigenous Village Chiefs [Ricardo PANE]; Association of Saramaccan Authorities or Maroon [Head Captain WASE]; Women's Parliament Forum or PVF [Iris GILLIAD] |
| International organization participation: | ACP, AOSIS, Caricom, CD, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Subhas-Chandra MUNGRA chancery: Suite 460, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 244-7488 FAX: [1] (202) 244-5878 consulate(s) general: Miami |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Jay N. ANANIA embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo mailing address: US Department of State, PO Box 1821, Paramaribo telephone: [597] 472-900 FAX: [597] 410-972 |
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| Economy |
| 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. Economic growth, which reached about 7% in 2008, owing to sizeable foreign investment in mining and oil, slowed to 2.2% in 2009 as investment waned and the country earned less from its commodity exports when global prices for most commodities fell. Trade picked up, boosting Suriname's economic growth about 4% per year in 2010-12, but the government's budget remained strained. Inflation rose from 1.3% in 2009 to 17.7% in 2011. In January 2011, the government devalued the currency by 20% and raised taxes to reduce the budget deficit. As a result of these measures, inflation receded to 6% in 2012. 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. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $6.685 billion (2012 est.) $6.429 billion (2011 est.) $6.173 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $5.094 billion (2012 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 4% (2012 est.) 4.2% (2011 est.) 4.1% (2010 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $12,300 (2012 est.) $11,900 (2011 est.) $11,600 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 10.4% industry: 36.6% services: 52.9% (2012 est.) |
| Labor force: | 165,600 (2007) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 8% industry: 14% services: 78% (2004) |
| Unemployment rate: | 9% (2008) 12.1% (2006) |
| Population below poverty line: | 70% (2002 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6% (2012 est.) 17.7% (2011 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $826.6 million expenditures: $939.7 million (2010 est.) |
| Agriculture - products: | rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts; beef, chickens; shrimp; forest products |
| Industries: | bauxite and gold mining, alumina production; oil, lumbering, food processing, fishing |
| Industrial production growth rate: | 6.5% (1994 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 1.603 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 141 |
| Electricity - consumption: | 1.463 billion kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.) |
| Current account balance: | $577.2 million (2012 est.) $251.1 million (2011 est.) |
| Exports: | $2.927 billion (2012 est.) $2.467 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | alumina, gold, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas |
| Exports - partners: | US 23.9%, Canada 19.5%, Belgium 17.2%, UAE 8.9%, Norway 6.2%, Guyana 4.8%, France 4.1% (2011) |
| Imports: | $1.838 billion (2012 est.) $1.679 billion (2011 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods |
| Imports - partners: | US 26.1%, Netherlands 15.6%, UAE 8.6%, China 8.2%, Antigua and Barbuda 7.4%, Netherlands Antilles 5.5%, Brazil 4.4%, Japan 4.1% (2011) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $1.048 billion (31 December 2011 est.) $726.8 million (2010 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $504.3 million (2005 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $NA |
| Exchange rates: | Surinamese dollars (SRD) per US dollar - 3.5 (2012 est.) 3.2683 (2011 est.) 2.7454 (2010 est.) 2.745 (2009) 2.745 (2008) |
| Fiscal year: | calendar year |
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| Communications |
| Telephones in use: | 85,500 (2011) country comparison to the world: 150 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 947,000 (2011) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: international facilities are good domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity 185 telephones per 100 persons; microwave radio relay network international: country code - 597; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2010) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .sr |
| Internet hosts: | 188 (2012) |
| Internet users: | 163,000 (2009) |
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| Transportation |
| Airports: | 47 (2012) country comparison to the world: 93 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 4 (2012) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 42 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 38 (2012) |
| Pipelines: | oil 50 km (2010) |
| Roadways: | total: 4,304 km paved: 1,130 km unpaved: 3,174 km (2003) |
| Waterways: | 1,200 km (most navigable by ships with drafts up to 7 m) (2011) |
| Ports and terminals: | Paramaribo, Wageningen |
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| Military |
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| Military branches: | Suriname Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air Forces (2010) |
| Military service age and obligation: | 18 years of age (est.); recruitment is voluntary, with personnel drawn almost exclusively from the Creole community (2007) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 134,218 females age 16-49: 134,439 (2010 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 109,445 females age 16-49: 112,538 (2010 est.) |
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