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| Introduction | 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 forced a democratic election. In 1989, the military overthrew the civilian government, but a democratically-elected government returned to power in 1991. |
| People | Suriname |
| 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 female: 19.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) male: 28.24 deaths/1,000 live births |
| 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.) |
| Government | Suriname |
| Country name: | conventional long form: Republic of Suriname conventional short form: Suriname local short form: Suriname former: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana local long form: Republiek Suriname |
| 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) 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 note: widespread demonstrations during the summer of 1999 led to the call for elections a year early |
| Legislative branch: | unicameral National Assembly or Nationale Assemblee (51 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) 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 elections: last held 5 May 2000 (next to be held NA May 2005) |
| 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 FAX: [1] (202) 244-5878 consulate(s) general: Miami telephone: [1] (202) 244-7488 chancery: Suite 460, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 |
| 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 |
| Communications | Suriname |
| Telephones - main lines in use: | 79,800 (2003) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: | 168,100 (2003) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: international facilities are good domestic: microwave radio relay network international: country code - 597; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 4, FM 13, shortwave 1 (1998) |
| Radios: | 300,000 (1997) |
| Television broadcast stations: | 3 (plus seven repeaters) (2000) |
| Televisions: | 63,000 (1997) |
| Internet country code: | .sr |
| Internet hosts: | 18 (2003) |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 2 (2000) |
| Internet users: | 20,000 (2002) |
| Transportation | Suriname |
| Highways: | total: 4,492 km paved: 1,168 km unpaved: 3,324 km (2000) |
| Waterways: | 1,200 km (most navigable by ships with drafts up to 7 m) (2003) |
| Pipelines: | oil 51 km (2004) |
| 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 (2004 est.) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 41 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 35 (2004 est.) |
| Military | Suriname |
| Military branches: | National Army (includes small Navy and Air Force elements) |
| Military manpower - availability: | males age 15-49: 124,260 (2004 est.) |
| Military manpower - fit for military service: | males age 15-49: 72,576 (2004 est.) |
| Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $7.5 million (2003) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 0.7% (2003) |
| Transnational Issues | Suriname |
| Disputes - international: | area claimed by French Guiana between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa); Suriname claims a triangle of land between the New and Kutari/Koetari Rivers in a historic dispute over the headwaters of the Courantyne; Guyana seeks UNCLOS arbitration to resolve the long-standing dispute with Suriname over the axis of the territorial sea boundary in potentially oil-rich waters |
| Illicit drugs: | growing transshipment point for South American drugs destined for Europe and Brazil; transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing |
| This page was last updated on 16 December, 2004 |
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