Suriname

 

Official name: SURINAME

Date of membership: 27 July 1979

Capital: Paramaribo

Geography

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

Area: 163,270 sq km

Land boundaries: 1,707 km

Border countries: Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km

Coastline: 386 km

Natural resources: Timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore.

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.

Economic indicators

Total at current prices   3862  4 120 2020
Per capita at current prices 7023 USD 2020
Growth rate per capita 
at constant prices
-16.7 % 2020
Country share in regional GDP 0.4 % 2016
Imports of goods 
and services 
(GDP at current prices)
55.9 % 2019
Exports of goods 
and services 
(GDP at current prices)
49.6 % 2019

Source: Suriname: Economic National Profile. CEPALSTAT. Databases
 and Statistical Publications. ECLAC. 
Inquiry: February 24, 2022 09, 2017

Socio-demographic indicators 

Total population   586.6 (000) 2020
Life expectancy 72 Years 2020-2025
Women 76 Years 2020-2025
Men 69 Years 2020-2025
Public health expenditure 
as a percentage of GDP
8.0 % 2018
Literacy rate for persons between
the ages of 15 to 24
98.6 % 2018
Net rate of enrolment in 
primary education
87.7 % 2019
Net rate of enrolment in 
secondary education
62.1 % 2015
Public expenditure on education
as a percentage of GDP
7.2 % 2019
Gini Coefficient NA NA NA
Unemployment 14.0 % 1999
Migration 1.7 % 2020-2025

Source: Suriname: National Socio-Demographic Profile. CEPALSTAT. 
Data Bases and Statistical Publications.
 ECLAC.  Inquiry: February 24, 2022. NA= No data available.

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.

Government

Administrative divisions: 10 districts (distrikten, singular – district): Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica.

Independence: 25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)

Constitution: Ratified 30 September 1987

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: Chief of State: President Chandrikapersad Santokhi (since 7 July 2020). Vice Presidente: Ronnie Brunswijk (since 7 July 2020).
Note: The president is both the chief of state and head of government.

Legislative branch: Unicameral National Assembly or Nationale Assemblee (51 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms).

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

Internet country code: .sr

Official Portal Web: http://www.kabinet.sr.org/
http://www.plos.sr/