FROM CIA WORLD FACTS

Republic of Suriname

Historical 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.

Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana. Brazil is to the south.
Area: 163,270 sq km (101,500 sq mi)
Coastline: 386 km (240 mi)
Climate: tropical; but moderated by trade winds.  Average temperature during the day ranges from 23ºC (74ºF) to 31ºC (88ºF).  Seasons are minor, but the worst of the rainy season is from April – August and the worst of the dry season is from August – November.
Terrain: mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps
Natural Resources: mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps
Environmental Issues: deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of inland waterways by small-scale mining activities
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


Population: 436,935 (July 2004)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.2%
Nationality: noun – Surinamer; 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: 93%

Government: constitutional democracy
Capital: Paramaribo
Independence (from Netherlands): November 25, 1975
Constitution: September 30, 1987
Legal System: based on Dutch legal system incorporating French penal theory
President and Chief of State: Runaldo Ronald Venetiaan (since August 12, 2000)

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 Per Capita: $4,000 (2003)
Population below the poverty line: 70%
Unemployment Rate: 17% (2000)
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
Export Commodities: alumina, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas
Export Partners: US, Norway, Belgium, France, Trinidad and Tobago, Iceland, Italy, Netherlands

Currency: Surinamese guilder (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

Highways: 4,492 km – 74% of which are unpaved
Airports: 46 – 5 of which are paved