Suriname
Geography:
- Location:
- A Republic Of North-Eastern South America, Bounded On The North By The Atlantic Ocean, On The East By French Guiana, On The South By Brazil, And On The West By Guyana.
- Area:
- Total: 163,270 Sq Km
- Land: 161,470 Sq Km
- Water: 1,800 Sq Km
- Coastline:
- 386 km
- Maritime Claims:
- Exclusive Economic Zone: 200 NM
- Territorial Sea: 12 NM
- Natural Resources:
- Timber, Hydropower, Fish, Kaolin, Shrimp, Bauxite, Gold, And Small Amounts Of Nickel, Copper, Platinum, Iron Ore
People:
- Population: 435,449 (July 2003 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
Government:
- Country name:
- conventional long form: Republic of Suriname
- conventional 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
- International organization participation: ACP, Caricom, ECLAC, 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
Economy:
- Inflation rate (consumer prices): 17% (2002 est.)
- Industries: bauxite and gold mining, alumina production, oil, lumbering, food processing, fishing
- Agriculture - products: paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts; beef, chickens; forest products; shrimp
- Exports: $445 million f.o.b. (2002)
- Exports - commodities: alumina, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas
- Imports: $300 million f.o.b. (2002)
- Imports - commodities: capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods
- Currency: Surinamese guilder (SRG)
National Policy:
- Marine Affairs Policy
- Marine Science & Research Policy
- Coastal Area Policy
- Environment Policy
Institutional Structure:
- Fisheries Subdepartment
- Cornelis Jongbauwstraat no.50 P.O.Box 438, Paramaribo, Suriname
- Telephone: (597) 76741
- Cable: MINAGR SURINAME
- Telex: Via min. FF ALBUZASN 132
- Hydraulic Research Division
- P.O. Box 2110 Panamaribo, Suriname
- Telephone: (597) 60322
National Focal Point for IOCARIBE
- The Secretary General
- Suriname National Commission for UNESCO
- Ministry of Education and Community Developments
- Grote Combeweg 23
- P. O. Box 3017, Paramaribo, Suriname
- Tel: +597 47-15-35
- Fax: +597 47-11-19
For updated information about Suriname visit its Central Intelligence Agency Fact Sheet.