Suriname

Internet country code

.sr

Internet hosts

18 (2003)

Internet users

20,000 (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4, FM 13, shortwave 1 (1998)

Telephone system

general assessment: international facilities are good domestic: microwave radio relay network international: country code - 597; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

79,800 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

168,100 (2003)

Television broadcast stations

3 (plus seven repeaters) (2000)

Agriculture - products

paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts; beef, chickens; forest products; shrimp

Budget

revenues: $400 million expenditures: $440 million, including capital expenditures of $34 million (2003)

Currency (code)

Surinam dollar (SRD)

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)

Economy - overview

The economy is dominated by the alumina 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 continued 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. While - in 2002 - President VENETIAAN agreed to a large pay raise for civil servants, threatening his earlier gains in stabilizing the economy, he has not repeated this promise in the run-up to the May 2005 elections. The Dutch Government has agreed to restart the aid flow, which will allow Suriname to access international development financing, but plans to phase out funds over the next five years. 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. Prospects for local onshore oil production are good, as a drilling program is underway. Offshore oil drilling was given a boost in 2004 when the State Oil Company (Staatsolie) signed exploration agreements with Repsol and Mearsk.

Electricity - consumption

1.845 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

1.984 billion kWh (2002)

Exchange rates

Surinamese dollars per US dollar - 2.7336 (2004), Surinamese guilders per US dollar - 2.6013 (2003), 2.3468 (2002), 2.1785 (2001), 1.3225 (2000) 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; in January 2004, the government introduced the Surinamese dollar as replacement for the guilder, tied to a US dollar-dominated currency basket

Exports

$495 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities

alumina, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas

Exports - partners

Norway 29.3%, US 15.1%, Canada 12.5%, Belgium 10.2%, France 8.4%, UAE 6.1%, Iceland 4.3% (2004)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.885 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 13% industry: 22% services: 65% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $4,300 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.2% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$604 million f.o.b. (2002)

Imports - commodities

capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods

Imports - partners

US 26.2%, Netherlands 19.3%, Trinidad and Tobago 13.5%, Japan 6.6%, China 4.6%, Brazil 4.2% (2004)

Industrial production growth rate

6.5% (1994 est.)

Industries

bauxite and gold mining, alumina production, oil, lumbering, food processing, fishing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

23% (2003 est.)

Labor force

104,000 (2003)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (2004)

Oil - consumption

14,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

1,370 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports

1,644 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - production

12,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

99 million bbl (2004)

Population below poverty line

70% (2002 est.)

Unemployment rate

17% (2000)

Area

total: 163,270 sq km land: 161,470 sq km water: 1,800 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Georgia

Climate

tropical; moderated by trade winds

Coastline

386 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m highest point: Juliana Top 1,230 m

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

Geographic coordinates

4 00 N, 56 00 W

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

Irrigated land

490 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 1,707 km border countries: Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km

Land use

arable land: 0.37% permanent crops: 0.06% other: 99.57% (2001)

Location

Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore

Terrain

mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps

Administrative divisions

10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica

Capital

Paramaribo

Constitution

ratified 30 September 1987

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

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

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

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 a two-thirds constitutional majority in the National Assembly after two votes, by a simple majority in the larger People's United Assembly (869 representatives from the national, local, and regional councils), for five-year terms; election last held 25 May 2005 (next to be held 25 May 2010)

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

Government type

constitutional democracy

Independence

25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)

International organization participation

ACP, Caricom, CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Cantonal Courts and a Court of Justice as an appellate court (justices are nominated for life)

Legal system

based on Dutch legal system incorporating French penal theory

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Nationale Assemblee (51 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 25 May 2005 (next to be held May 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - NF 41.2%, NDP 23.1%, VVV 14.5%, A-Com 7.3%, A1 6.2%, other 5.9%; seats by party - NF 23, NDP 15, VVV 5, A-Com 5, A1 3

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 November (1975)

Political parties and leaders

A-Combinatie (coalition of Brotherhood and Unity in Politics or BEP [Caprino ALENDY], General Interior Development Party or ABOP [Ronnie BRUNSWIJK], Progressive Laborers and Farmers Union or PALU [Jim HOK], Seeka [Paul ABENA]); Alternative-1 or A-1 (a coalition of Democratic Alternative 1991 or DA-91 [Winston JESSURUN], Democrats of the 21st Century or D-21 [Soewarto MOESTADJA], Nieuw Suriname or NS [Radjen Nanan PANDAY], Political Wing of the FAL or PVF [Jiwan SITAL], Trefpunt 2000 or T-2000 [Arti JESSURUN]); National Democratic Party or NDP [Desire BOUTERSE]; New Front for Democracy and Development or NF (a coalition includes National Party Suriname or NPS (Ronald VENETIAAN], United Reform Party or VHP [Ram SARDJOE], Pertjaja Luhur or PL [Salam Paul SOMOHARDJO], Surinamese Labor Party or SPA [Siegfried GILDS]); Party for Democracy and Development in Unity or DOE [Marten Schalkwijk]; People's Alliance for Progress or VVV (a coalition of Democratic National Platform 2000 or DNP-2000 [Jules WIJDENBOSCH], Grassroots Party for Renewal and Democracy or BVD [Tjan GOBARDHAN], Party for National Unity and Solidarity of the Highest Order or KTPI [Willy SOEMITA], Party for Progression, Justice, and Perserverance or PPRS [Renee KAIMAN], Pendawalima or PL [Raymond SAPOEN]); Union of Progressive Surinamers or UPS [Sheoradj PANDAY]

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]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 111,582 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 77,793 (2005 est.)

Military branches

National Army (includes small Navy and Air Force elements)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$7.5 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.7% (2003)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (est.); no conscription

Age structure

0-14 years: 29.6% (male 66,537/female 63,182) 15-64 years: 64.2% (male 144,285/female 136,942) 65 years and over: 6.2% (male 12,092/female 15,106) (2005 est.)

Birth rate

18.39 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate

7.16 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

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%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.7% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

5,200 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 23.57 deaths/1,000 live births male: 27.57 deaths/1,000 live births female: 19.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 68.96 years male: 66.75 years female: 71.27 years (2005 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 88% male: 92.3% female: 84.1% (2000 est.)

Median age

total: 26.13 years male: 25.72 years female: 26.58 years (2005 est.)

Nationality

noun: Surinamer(s) adjective: Surinamese

Net migration rate

-8.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Population

438,144 (July 2005 est.)

Population growth rate

0.25% (2005 est.)

Religions

Hindu 27.4%, Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian), Roman Catholic 22.8%, Muslim 19.6%, indigenous beliefs 5%

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: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.34 children born/woman (2005 est.)

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

Airports

46 (2004 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.)

Highways

total: 4,492 km paved: 1,168 km unpaved: 3,324 km (2002)

Merchant marine

total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,078 GRT/1,214 DWT by type: cargo 1 (2005)

Pipelines

oil 51 km (2004)

Ports and harbors

Paramaribo

Waterways

1,200 km (most navigable by ships with drafts up to 7 m) (2003)