Suriname

Suriname 

 
Geography                 Economy                 Defense Forces
 

People                    Transportation          Government



Communications            History      	          Travel

GEOGRAPHY

Location

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

Area

Land Boundaries

Total 1,707 km, Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km

Coastline

386 km

Maritime Claims

International Disputes

Claims area in French Guiana between Litani Rivier and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa Rivier); claims area in Guyana between New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Koetari Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne)

Climate

Tropical; moderated by trade winds

Terrain

Mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps
lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m
highest point: Wilhelmina Gebergte 1,286 m

Natural Resources

Land Use

Irrigated Land

590 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment

Note: Mostly tropical rain forest; great diversity of flora and fauna which for the most part is not threatened because of the lack of development; relatively small population most of which lives along the coast

PEOPLE

Population

436,418 (July 1996 est.)
429,544 (July 1995 est.)

Age Structure

0-14 Years

34% (male 74,959; female 71,500) (July 1996 est.)
34% (male 74,330; female 70,845) (July 1995 est.)

15-64 Years

62% (male 136,287; female 132,407) (July 1996 est.)
61% (male 133,693; female 130,153) (July 1995 est.)

65 Years and Over

4% (male 9,930; female 11,335) (July 1996 est.)
5% (male 9,626; female 10,897) (July 1995 est.)

Population Growth Rate

1.6% (1996 est.)
1.58% (1995 est.)

Birth Rate

24.15 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
24.72 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death Rate

5.84 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
5.91 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net Migration Rate

-2.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
-3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

29.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
30.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Total Fertility Rate

2.68 children born/woman (1996 est.)
2.73 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality

Ethnic Divisions

Religions

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

Age 15 and over that can read and write (1995 est.)

Labor Force

GOVERNMENT

Names

Digraph

NS

Type

Republic

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

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive Branch

Note: Commander in Chief of the National Army maintains significant power

Legislative Branch

Unicameral

National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)

Elections last held 25 May 1991 (next to be held NA May 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (51 total) NF 30, NDP 10, DA '91 9, independents 2

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court

Political Parties and Leaders

The New Front (NF), a coalition of four parties (NPS, VHP, KTPI, SPA), leader Ronald R. VENETIAAN; Progressive Reform Party (VHP), Jaggernath LACHMON; National Party of Suriname (NPS), Ronald VENETIAAN; Party of National Unity and Solidarity (KTPI), Willy SOEMITA; Suriname Labor Party (SPA), Fred DERBY; Democratic Alternative '91 (DA '91), a coalition of two parties (AF, and BEP) formed in January 1991, Winston JESSURUN; Alternative Forum (AF), Gerard BRUNINGS; Party for Brotherhood and Unity in Politics (BEP), Caprino ALLENDY; Pendawa Lima, Marsha JAMIN; National Democratic Party (NDP), Desire BOUTERSE; Progressive Workers' and Farm Laborers' Union (PALU), Ir Iwan KROLIS; The Alliance, a combination of three parties (DP, HPP, PVF), Ernie BRUNINGS; Democratic Party (DP), Ernie BRUNINGS; Reformed Progressive Party (HPP), Harry KISOENSINGH; Party of the Federation of Land Workers PVF), Jwan SITAL

Other Political or Pressure Groups

Surinamese Liberation Army (SLA), Ronnie BRUNSWIJK, Johan "Castro" WALLY; Union for Liberation and Democracy, Kofi AFONGPONG; Mandela Bushnegro Liberation Movement, Leendert ADAMS; Tucayana Amazonica, Alex JUBITANA, Thomas SABAJO

Member of

ACP, Caricom, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

National Anthem

Flag

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

ECONOMY

Overview

The economy is dominated by the bauxite industry, which accounts for upwards of 15% of GDP and more than 65% of export earnings. Following a dismal year in 1994 which saw the value of the Surinamese currency plummet by about 80%, inflation rise to more than 600%, and national output fall for the fifth consecutive year, nearly all economic indicators improved in 1995. The VENETIAAN government unified the exchange rate and the currency gained some of its lost value. In addition, inflation fell to double digits and tax revenues increased sufficiently to nearly erase the budget deficit. The release of substantial development aid from the Netherlands - which had been held up due to the government's failure to initiate economic reforms - also helped buoy the economy. Suriname's economic prospects for the medium term will depend on continued implementation of needed economic restructuring; the outcome of the national elections in May 1996 will be an important factor in determining future government policy.

National Product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.3 billion (1995 est.); $1.2 billion (1994 est.)

National Product Real Growth Rate

0.7% (1995 est.)
-0.8% (1994 est.)

National Product Per Capita

$2,950 (1995 est.)
$2,800 (1994 est.)

Inflation Rate (consumer Prices)

62% (1995)
225% (1994 est.)

Unemployment Rate

NA

Budget

Exports

$293.6 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
$443.3 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

Commodities:

Partners:

Imports

$194.3 million (f.o.b., 1994 est.)
$520.5 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

Commodities:

Partners:

External Debt

$180 million (March 1993 est.)

Industrial Production

Growth rate 3.5% (1992 est.); accounts for 18% of GDP

Electricity

Industries

Agriculture

Accounts for 21.6% of GDP and 25% of export earnings; paddy rice planted on 85% of arable land and represents 60% of total farm output; other products - bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts, beef, chicken; shrimp and forestry products of increasing importance; self-sufficient in most foods

Illicit Drugs

Transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the U.S. and Europe

Economic Aid

Currency

1 Surinamese guilder, gulden, or florin (Sf.) = 100 cents

Exchange Rates

Surinamese guilders, gulden, or florins (Sf.) per US$1 - 402.32 (December 1995), 442.23 (1995), 134.12 (1994); parallel rate: 412 (December 1995), 510 (December 1994), 109 (January 1994)

note: beginning July 1994, the central bank midpoint exchange rate was unified and became market determined

Fiscal Year

Calendar year

TRANSPORTATION

Railroads

Highways

Inland Waterways

1,200 km; most important means of transport; oceangoing vessels with drafts ranging up to 7 m can navigate many of the principal waterways

Ports

Albina, Moengo, Nieuw Nickerie, Paramaribo, Paranam, Wageningen

Merchant Marine

Airports

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone System

43,522 telephones (1992 est.); international facilities good

Radio

Television

DEFENSE FORCES

Branches

National Army (includes small Navy and Air Force elements), Civil Police

Manpower Availability

Males age 15-49 119,010; males fit for military service 70,400 (1996 est.)

Defense Expenditures

NA

History
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