Hindu 27.4%, Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian), Roman Catholic 22.8%, Muslim 19.6%, indigenous beliefs 5%
Orthodox Christian 83.9%, Muslim 9.9%, Armenian-Gregorian 3.9%, Catholic 0.8%, other 0.8%, none 0.7% (2002 census)
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
Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, other 7% note: Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia
Exports
alumina, gold, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas
scrap metal, wine, mineral water, ores, vehicles, fruits and nuts
External Debt
$504,300,000 $
$11,080,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
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
laris (GEL) per US dollar - 1.47 (2008 est.), 1.7 (2007), 1.78 (2006), 1.8127 (2005), 1.9167 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.600%
1.900%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
6
Location
Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana
Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia
Area
163,820 km sq
69,700 km sq
Coastline
386 km
310 km
Climate
tropical; moderated by trade winds
warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast
