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Suriname
Background: 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 rule through a succession of nominally civilian administrations until 1987, when international pressure finally brought about a democratic election.
Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana Geographic coordinates: 4 00 N, 56 00 W Map references: South America Area:
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Georgia Land boundaries:
Coastline: 386 km Maritime claims:
Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds Terrain: mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps Elevation extremes:
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore Land use:
Irrigated land: 600 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: NA Environment - current issues: deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of inland waterways by small-scale mining activities Environment - international agreements:
Geography - note: mostly tropical rain forest; great diversity of flora and fauna that, for the most part, is increasingly threatened by new development; relatively small population, most of which lives along the coast
Population: 431,303 (July 2000 est.) Age structure:
Population growth rate: 0.65% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 21.08 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 5.69 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: -8.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio:
Infant mortality rate: 25.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth:
Total fertility rate: 2.5 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality:
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%, Muslim 19.6%, Roman Catholic 22.8%, Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian), 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:
Country name:
Data code: NS Government type: constitutional democracy Capital: Paramaribo Administrative divisions: 10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica Independence: 25 November 1975 (from Netherlands) National holiday: Independence Day, 25 November (1975) Constitution: ratified 30 September 1987 Legal system: based on Dutch legal system incorporating French penal theory Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch:
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or National Assemblee (51 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
Judicial branch: Court of Justice, justices nominated for life Political parties and leaders: Alternative Forum or AF [Rick VAN RAVENSWAY]; Democratic Alternative '91 or DA '91 (a coalition of the AF and BEP, formed in January 1991) [Winston JESSURUN]; Democratic Party or DP [Frank PLAYFAIR]; Independent Progressive Democratic Alternative or OPDA [Joginder RAMKHILAWAN]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Desire BOUTERSE]; National Party of Suriname or NPS [Ronald VENETIAAN]; Naya Kadam [Marijke DJWALAPERSAD]; Party for Brotherhood and Unity in Politics or BEP [Caprino ALLENDE]; Party for Renewal and Democracy or BVD [Atta MUNGRA]; Party of National Unity and Solidarity or KTPI [Willy SOEMITA]; Party of the Federation of Land Workers or PVF [Jwan SITAL]; Pertjaja Luhur [Paul SOMOHARDJO]; Progressive Reform Party or VHP [Jaggernath LACHMON]; Progressive Workers' and Farm Laborers' Union or PALU [Ir Iwan KROLIS]; Reformed Progressive Party or HPP [Harry KISOENSINGH]; Suriname Labor Party or SPA [Fred DERBY]; The New Front or NF (a coalition of four parties NPS, VHP, SPA, and Pertjaja Luhur) [Ronald R. VENETIAAN]; The Progressive Development Alliance (a combination of two parties, HPP and PVF) [Harry KISOENSINGH] Political pressure groups and leaders: General Liberation and Development Party or ABOP [Ronnie BRUNSWIJK]; Mandela Bushnegro Liberation Movement [Leendert ADAMS]; Tucayana Amazonica [Alex JUBITANA, Thomas SABAJO]; Union for Liberation and Democracy [Kofi AFONGPONG] International organization participation: ACP, Caricom, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US:
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Flag description: 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
Economy - overview: The economy is dominated by the bauxite industry, which accounts for more than 15% of GDP and 70% of export earnings. After assuming power in the fall of 1996, the WIJDENBOSCH government ended the structural adjustment program of the previous government, claiming it was unfair to the poorer elements of society. Tax revenues fell as old taxes lapsed and the government failed to implement new tax alternatives. By the end of 1997, the allocation of new Dutch development funds was frozen as Surinamese Government relations with the Netherlands deteriorated. Economic growth slowed in 1998, with decline in the mining, construction, and utility sectors. Rampant government expenditures, poor tax collection, a bloated civil service, and reduced foreign aid in 1999 contributed to the fiscal deficit, estimated at 11% of GDP. The government sought to cover this deficit through monetary expansion, which led to a dramatic increase in inflation and exchange rate depreciation. Suriname's economic prospects for the medium term will depend on renewed commitment to responsible monetary and fiscal policies and to the introduction of structural reforms to liberalize markets and promote competition. GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.48 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: -1% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,400 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector:
Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 170% (1999 est.) Labor force: 100,000 Labor force - by occupation: agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% Unemployment rate: 20% (1997) Budget:
Industries: bauxite and gold mining, alumina and aluminum production, lumbering, food processing, fishing Industrial production growth rate: 6.5% (1994 est.) Electricity - production: 2.008 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source:
Electricity - consumption: 1.867 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998) Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts; beef, chickens; forest products; shrimp Exports: $406.1 million (f.o.b., 1998) Exports - commodities: alumina, aluminum, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas Exports - partners: Norway 24%, Netherlands 23.8%, US 21.7%, France 7.3%, Japan 4.9%, UK (1998 est.) Imports: $461.4 million (f.o.b., 1998) Imports - commodities: capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods Imports - partners: US 31.2%, Netherlands 17.3%, Trinidad and Tobago 16.1%, Japan 4.3%, UK 4%, Brazil (1998) Debt - external: $175.6 million (1998 est.) Economic aid - recipient: Netherlands provided $37 million for project and program assistance, European Development Fund $4 million, Belgium $2 million (1998) Currency: 1 Surinamese guilder, gulden, or florin (Sf.) = 100 cents Exchange rates:
Surinamese guilders, gulden, or florins (Sf.) per US$1 - 995 (December 1999), 710 (May 1999), 850 (January 1999); central bank midpoint rate: 639.50 (1st Qtr 1999), 401.00 (1998), 401.00 (1997), 401.26 (1996), 442.23 (1995); parallel rate: 1,325 (December 1999), 2000 (May 1999), 800 (December 1998), 412 (December 1995)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Telephones - main lines in use: 56,844 (1996) Telephones - mobile cellular: 3,671 (1995) Telephone system:
international facilities good
Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 13, shortwave 1 (1998) Radios: 300,000 (1997) Television broadcast stations: 3 (plus seven repeaters) (1997) Televisions: 63,000 (1997) Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 1 (1999)
Railways:
Highways:
Waterways: 1,200 km; most important means of transport; oceangoing vessels with drafts ranging up to 7 m can navigate many of the principal waterways Ports and harbors: Albina, Moengo, New Nickerie, Paramaribo, Paranam, Wageningen Merchant marine:
Airports: 46 (1999 est.) Airports - with paved runways:
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Military branches: National Army (includes small Navy and Air Force elements), Civil Police Military manpower - availability:
Military manpower - fit for military service:
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $8.5 million (FY97 est.) Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.6% (FY97 est.)
Disputes - international: claims area in French Guiana between Litani Rivier and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa); claims area in Guyana between New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Koetari [Kutari] Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne) Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American drugs destined mostly for Europe Please click here for a guide to the country profiles Click here for all other countries
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