| 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 brought
about 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 |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
4 00 N, 56 00 W |
| Map
references: |
South America |
| Area: |
total:
163,270 sq km
land: 161,470 sq km
water: 1,800 sq km |
| Area
- comparative: |
slightly larger
than Georgia |
| Land
boundaries: |
total:
1,707 km
border countries: Brazil 597 km, French Guiana
510 km, Guyana 600 km |
| Maritime
claims: |
exclusive
economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
| Climate: |
tropical;
moderated by trade winds |
| Terrain: |
mostly rolling
hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m
highest point: Juliana Top 1,230 m |
| Natural
resources: |
timber,
hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold, and small
amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore |
| Land
use: |
arable land:
0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 96%
other: 4% (1993 est.)
note: there are 94,927 hectares of arable land,
7,195 hectares of permanent crops, and 15,000 hectares of
permanent pastures |
| Irrigated
land: |
600 sq km (1993
est.) |
| 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, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements |
| Geography
- note: |
mostly tropical
rain forest; great diversity of flora and fauna that, for
the most part, is increasingly threatened by new
development; relatively small population, most of which
lives along the coast |
| Population: |
433,998 (July
2001 est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years:
31.62% (male 70,314; female 66,924)
15-64 years: 62.71% (male 138,969; female
133,193)
65 years and over: 5.67% (male 11,194; female
13,404) (2001 est.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
0.6% (2001 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
20.53
births/1,000 population (2001 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
5.68 deaths/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
-8.87 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
| Sex
ratio: |
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2001
est.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
24.27
deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total
population: 71.63 years
male: 68.97 years
female: 74.42 years (2001 est.) |
| Total
fertility rate: |
2.47 children
born/woman (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
1.26% (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
3,000 (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- deaths: |
210 (1999 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 |
| Literacy: |
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93%
male: 95%
female: 91% (1995 est.) |
| 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 |
| Government
type: |
constitutional
democracy |
| 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: |
based on Dutch
legal system incorporating French penal theory |
| Suffrage: |
18 years of age;
universal |
| 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 constitutional majority
vote in the National Assembly after two votes, by the larger
People's Assembly (869 representatives from the national,
local, and regional councils), for five-year terms; election
last held 6 May 2000 (next to be held NA May 2005)
note: widespread demonstrations during the
summer of 1999 led to the calling of elections a year early
election results: Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN
elected president; percent of legislative vote - 72.5;
National Assembly elected the president - Runaldo Ronald
VENETIAAN (New Front) 37 votes, Rashied DOEKHIE (NDP) 10
votes |
| Legislative
branch: |
unicameral
National Assembly or Nationale Assemblee (51 seats; members
are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 5 May 2000 (next to be
held NA May 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - NF 33, MC 10, DNP 2000 3, DA '91 2,
PVF 2, PALU 1
note: widespread demonstrations during the
summer of 1999 led to the calling of elections a year early |
| Judicial
branch: |
Court of Justice
(justices are nominated for life) |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
Democratic
Alternative '91 or DA '91 (a coalition of the Alternative
Forum or AF and Party for Brotherhood and Unity in Politics
or BEP, formed in January 1991) [S. RAMKHELAWAN]; Democratic
National Platform 2000 or DNP 2000 (coalition of two
parties, Democratic Party and Democrats of the 21st Century)
[Jules WIJDENBOSCH]; Independent Progressive Democratic
Alternative or OPDA [Joginder RAMKHILAWAN]; Millennium
Combination or MC (a coalition of three parties, Democratic
Alternative, Party for National Unity and Solidarity, and
National Democratic Party) [leader NA]; National Democratic
Party or NDP [Desire BOUTERSE]; Naya Kadam or NK [leader
NA]; Party for Renewal and Democracy or BVD [Tjan GOBARDHAN];
Party of National Unity and Solidarity or KTPI [Willy
SOEMITA]; Pertjaja Luhur [Paul SOMOHARDJO]; Progressive
Workers' and Farm Laborers' Union or PALU [Ir Iwan KROLIS];
The New Front or NF (a coalition of four parties Suriname
National Party or NPS, Progressive Reform Party or VHP,
Suriname Labor Party or SPA, and Pertjaja Luhur) [Ronald R.
VENETIAAN]; The Progressive Development Alliance (a
combination of three parties, Renewed Progressive Party or
HPP, Party of the Federation of Land Workers or PVF, and
Suriname Progressive People's Party or PSV) [Harry
KISOENSINGH] |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
General
Liberation and Development Party or ABOP [Ronnie BRUNSWIJK];
Mandela Bushnegro Liberation Movement [Leendert ADAMS];
Tucayana Amazonica [Alex JUBITANA, Thomas SABAJO]; Union for
Liberation and Democracy [Kofi AFONGPONG] |
| International
organization participation: |
ACP, Caricom,
ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDB, IFAD,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol,
IOC, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador (vacant)
chancery: Suite 460, 4301 Connecticut Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 244-7488
FAX: [1] (202) 244-5878
consulate(s) general: Miami |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador Daniel A. JOHNSON
embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129,
Paramaribo
mailing address: Department of State, 3390
Paramaribo Place, Washington, DC, 20521-3390
telephone: [597] 472900
FAX: [597] 420800 |
| 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 |
| Economy
- overview: |
The economy is
dominated by the bauxite industry, which accounts for more
than 15% of GDP and 70% of export earnings. After assuming
power in the fall of 1996, the WIJDENBOSCH government ended
the structural adjustment program of the previous
government, claiming it was unfair to the poorer elements of
society. Tax revenues fell as old taxes lapsed and the
government failed to implement new tax alternatives. By the
end of 1997, the allocation of new Dutch development funds
was frozen as Surinamese Government relations with the
Netherlands deteriorated. Economic growth slowed in 1998,
with decline in the mining, construction, and utility
sectors. Rampant government expenditures, poor tax
collection, a bloated civil service, and reduced foreign aid
in 1999 contributed to the fiscal deficit, estimated at 11%
of GDP. The government sought to cover this deficit through
monetary expansion, which led to a dramatic increase in
inflation and exchange rate depreciation. 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 new
government of Ronald VENETIAAN has begun an austerity
program, raised taxes, and attempted to control spending.
the exchange rate has responded by stabilizing. The Dutch
Government has restarted the aid flow, which will allow
Suriname to access international development financing. |
| GDP: |
purchasing power
parity - $1.48 billion (1999 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
-1% (1999 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power
parity - $3,400 (1999 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture:
13%
industry: 22%
services: 65% (1998 est.) |
| Population
below poverty line: |
NA% |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%:
NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
78% (2000 est.) |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
agriculture NA%,
industry NA%, services NA% |
| Unemployment
rate: |
20% (1997) |
| Budget: |
revenues:
$393 million
expenditures: $403 million, including capital
expenditures of $34 million (1997 est.) |
| Industries: |
bauxite and gold
mining, alumina production, lumbering, food processing,
fishing |
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
6.5% (1994 est.) |
| Electricity
- production: |
1.937 billion kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel:
25.92%
hydro: 74.08%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1999) |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
1.801 billion kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
0 kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
0 kWh (1999) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
paddy rice,
bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts; beef,
chickens; forest products; shrimp |
| Exports: |
$443 million
(f.o.b., 1999) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
alumina, crude
oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas |
| Exports
- partners: |
US 23%, Norway
19%, Netherlands 11%, France, Japan, UK (1999) |
| Imports: |
$525 million
(f.o.b., 1999) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
capital
equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods |
| Imports
- partners: |
US 35%,
Netherlands 15%, Trinidad and Tobago 12%, Japan, UK, Brazil
(1999) |
| Debt
- external: |
$512 million
(2000 est.) |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
Netherlands
provided $37 million for project and program assistance,
European Development Fund $4 million, Belgium $2 million
(1998) |
| Currency: |
Surinamese
guilder (SRG) |
| Exchange
rates: |
Surinamese
guilders per US dollar - 2,178.50 (December 2000), 987.50
(December 1999), 401.00 (December 1998), 401.00 (December
1997), 401.26 (December 1996)
note: beginning in July 1994, the central bank
midpoint exchange rate was unified and became market
determined; 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 |
| Fiscal
year: |
calendar year |
| Telephones
- main lines in use: |
64,000 (1997) |
| Telephones
- mobile cellular: |
4,090 (1997) |
| Telephone
system: |
general
assessment: international facilities are good
domestic: microwave radio relay network
international: satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) |
| Radio
broadcast stations: |
AM 4, FM 13,
shortwave 1 (1998) |
| Television
broadcast stations: |
3 (plus seven
repeaters) (2000) |
| Televisions: |
63,000 (1997) |
| Internet
country code: |
.sr |
| Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
2 (2000) |
| Internet
users: |
10,000 (2000) |
| Railways: |
total:
166 km (single track)
standard gauge: 80 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 86 km 1.000-m gauge
note: Suriname railroads are not in operation
(2000) |
| Highways: |
total:
4,530 km
paved: 1,178 km
unpaved: 3,352 km (1996) |
| Waterways: |
1,200 km
note: most important means of transport;
oceangoing vessels with drafts ranging up to 7 m can
navigate many of the principal waterways |
| Ports
and harbors: |
Albina, Moengo,
New Nickerie, Paramaribo, Paranam, Wageningen |
| Merchant
marine: |
total:
3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,432 GRT/4,525 DWT
ships by type: cargo 1, container 1, petroleum
tanker 1 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total:
5
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 3 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total:
41
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 35 (2000 est.) |
| Military
branches: |
National Army
(includes small Navy and Air Force elements), Civil Police |
| Military
manpower - availability: |
males age
15-49: 121,656 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age
15-49: 71,344 (2001 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$8.5 million
(FY97 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
1.6% (FY97 est.) |
| Disputes
- international: |
area disputed by
French Guiana between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini
(both headwaters of the Lawa); area disputed by Guyana
between New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Koetari [Kutari]
rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne) |
| Illicit
drugs: |
transshipment
point for South American drugs destined for Europe and
Brazil; transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing |
|
