Definition Field Listing Rank
Order
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
forced a democratic election. In 1989, the military overthrew the
civilian government, but a democratically-elected government
returned to power in 1991. Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
|
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: |
total:
163,270 sq km land: 161,470 sq km water: 1,800
sq km |
Area - comparative: |
slightly
larger than Georgia |
Land boundaries: |
total: 1,707 km border countries: Brazil 597
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: 0.37% permanent crops: 0.06% other:
99.57% (2001) |
Irrigated land: |
490 sq km
(1998 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: |
party
to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not
ratified: none of the selected agreements |
Geography - note: |
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 Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
|
Population: |
436,935 (July
2004 est.) |
Age structure: |
0-14
years: 30.2% (male 67,588; female 64,223) 15-64
years: 63.7% (male 142,656; female 135,819) 65 years and
over: 6.1% (male 11,914; female 14,735) (2004 est.) |
Median age: |
total: 25.8 years male: 25.4 years
female: 26.3 years (2004 est.) |
Population growth rate: |
0.31% (2004
est.) |
Birth rate: |
18.87
births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
Death rate: |
6.99
deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
Net migration rate: |
-8.81
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
Sex ratio: |
at
birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65
years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population:
1.03 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
Infant mortality rate: |
total:
24.15 deaths/1,000 live births male: 28.24 deaths/1,000
live births female: 19.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2004
est.) |
Life expectancy at birth: |
total
population: 69.1 years male: 66.77 years
female: 71.55 years (2004 est.) |
Total fertility rate: |
2.37 children
born/woman (2004 est.) |
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |
1.2% (2001
est.) |
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: |
3,700 (2001
est.) |
HIV/AIDS - deaths: |
330 (2001
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%,
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: |
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93% male: 95%
female: 91% (1995 est.) Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
|
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: |
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: |
chief of
state: President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12 August
2000); Vice President Jules Rattankoemar AJODHIA (since 12 August
2000); 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 Jules Rattankoemar
AJODHIA (since 12 August 2000); note - the president is both the
chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet of
Ministers appointed by the president from among the members of the
National Assembly elections: president and vice president
elected by the National Assembly or, if no presidential or vice
presidential candidate receives a constitutional majority in the
National Assembly after two votes, by the larger People's Assembly
(869 representatives from the national, local, and regional
councils), for five-year terms; election last held 6 May 2000 (next
to be held NA May 2005) note: widespread demonstrations
during the summer of 1999 led to the call for elections a year early
election results: Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN elected
president by the National Assembly; percent of legislative vote -
Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN 72.5%; Rashied DOEKHIE (NDP) 19.6%; total
votes cast - Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (New Front) 37 votes, Rashied
DOEKHIE (NDP) 10 votes |
Legislative branch: |
unicameral
National Assembly or Nationale Assemblee (51 seats; members are
elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 5 May 2000 (next to be held NA May
2005) election results: percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - NF 33, MC 10, DNP 2000 3, DA '91 2, PVF 2, PALU 1
note: widespread demonstrations during the summer of 1999
led to the call for elections a year early |
Judicial branch: |
Court of
Justice (justices are nominated for life) |
Political parties and leaders: |
Democratic
Alternative '91 or DA '91 (a coalition of the Alternative Forum or
AF and Party for Brotherhood and Unity in Politics or BEP, formed in
January 1991) [Winston JESSURUN]; Democratic National Platform 2000
or DNP 2000 (coalition of two parties, Democratic Party and
Democrats of the 21st Century) [Jules WIJDENBOSCH]; Independent
Progressive Democratic Alternative or OPDA [Joginder RAMKHILAWAN];
Millennium Combination or MC (a coalition of three parties,
Democratic Alternative, Party for National Unity and Solidarity, and
National Democratic Party) [leader NA]; National Democratic Party or
NDP [Desire BOUTERSE]; Naya Kadam or NK [leader NA]; Party for
Renewal and Democracy or BVD [Tjan GOBARDHAN]; Party of National
Unity and Solidarity or KTPI [Willy SOEMITA]; Pertjaja Luhur [Paul
SOMOHARDJO]; Progressive Workers' and Farm Laborers' Union or PALU
[Ir Iwan KROLIS]; The New Front or NF (a coalition of four parties
Suriname National Party or NPS, Progressive Reform Party or VHP,
Suriname Labor Party or SPA, and Pertjaja Luhur) [Runaldo Ronald
VENETIAAN]; The Progressive Development Alliance (a combination of
three parties, Renewed Progressive Party or HPP, Party of the
Federation of Land Workers or PVF, and Suriname Progressive People's
Party or PSV) [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, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, 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: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador Henry Lothar ILLES 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 Marsha E. BARNES embassy: Dr.
Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo mailing address:
Department of State, 3390 Paramaribo Place, Washington, DC,
20521-3390 telephone: [597] 472900 FAX: [597]
420800 |
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 Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
|
Economy - overview: |
The economy
is dominated by the bauxite industry, which accounts for more than
15% of GDP and 70% of export earnings. 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. The
government of Ronald VENETIAAN has begun an austerity program,
raised taxes, and attempted to control spending. However, in 2002,
President VENETIAAN agreed to a large pay raise for civil servants,
which threatens his earlier gains in stabilizing the economy. The
Dutch Government has agreed to restart the aid flow, which will
allow Suriname to access international development financing. 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. |
GDP: |
purchasing
power parity - $1.752 billion (2003 est.) |
GDP - real growth rate: |
5% (2003
est.) |
GDP - per capita: |
purchasing
power parity - $4,000 (2003 est.) |
GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 13% industry: 22%
services: 65% (2001 est.) |
Population below poverty line: |
70% (2002
est.) |
Household income or consumption by percentage
share: |
lowest
10%: NA highest 10%: NA |
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
17% (2002
est.) |
Labor force: |
100,000
|
Labor force - by occupation: |
agriculture
NA, industry NA, services NA |
Unemployment rate: |
17% (2000)
|
Budget: |
revenues: $393 million expenditures: $403
million, including capital expenditures of $34 million (1997 est.)
|
Agriculture - products: |
paddy rice,
bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts; beef, chickens;
forest products; shrimp |
Industries: |
bauxite and
gold mining, alumina production, oil, lumbering, food processing,
fishing |
Industrial production growth rate: |
6.5% (1994
est.) |
Electricity - production: |
1.959 billion
kWh (2001) |
Electricity - consumption: |
1.822 billion
kWh (2001) |
Electricity - exports: |
0 kWh (2001)
|
Electricity - imports: |
0 kWh (2001)
|
Oil - production: |
10,000
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
Oil - consumption: |
10,000
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
Oil - exports: |
NA (2001)
|
Oil - imports: |
NA (2001)
|
Oil - proved reserves: |
37 million
bbl (1 January 2002) |
Natural gas - proved reserves: |
0 cu m (1
January 2002) |
Exports: |
$495 million
f.o.b. (2002) |
Exports - commodities: |
alumina,
crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas |
Exports - partners: |
US 22.7%,
Norway 20.6%, Belgium 12.2%, France 9.8%, Trinidad and Tobago 6.9%,
Iceland 4.6%, Italy 4.2%, Netherlands 4.1% (2003 est.) |
Imports: |
$604 million
f.o.b. (2002) |
Imports - commodities: |
capital
equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods |
Imports - partners: |
US 30.5%,
Netherlands 17.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 12.1%, China 6.6%, Japan
6.2%, Netherlands Antilles 4.6% (2003 est.) |
Debt - external: |
$321 million
(2002 est.) |
Economic aid - recipient: |
Netherlands
provided $37 million for project and program assistance, European
Development Fund $4 million, Belgium $2 million (1998) |
Currency: |
Surinamese
guilder (SRG) |
Currency code: |
SRG |
Exchange rates: |
Surinamese
guilders per US dollar - NA (2003), 2,346.75 (2002), 2,178.5 (2001),
1,322.47 (2000), 859.437 (1999) note: during 1998, the
exchange rate splintered into four distinct rates; in January 1999
the government floated the guilder, but subsequently fixed it when
the black-market rate plunged; the government currently allows
trading within a band of SRG 500 around the official rate |
Fiscal year: |
calendar
year Learn geography the easy way by playing ZL's Geographycards (www.geographycards.com)
|
Highways: |
total:
4,492 km paved: 1,168 km unpaved: 3,324 km
(2000) |
Waterways: |
1,200 km
note: most important means of transport; oceangoing
vessels with drafts ranging up to 7 m can navigate many of the
principal waterways |
Pipelines: |
oil 51 km
(2003) |
Ports and harbors: |
Albina,
Moengo, New Nickerie, Paramaribo, Paranam, Wageningen |
Merchant marine: |
total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,421 GRT/2,990 DWT
by type: cargo 1, container 1 (2003 est.) |
Airports: |
46 (2003
est.) |
Airports - with paved runways: |
total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 under 914
m: 4 (2003 est.) |
Airports - with unpaved runways: |
total: 41 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to
1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 35 (2003 est.)
|
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