Suriname

Introduction

Background

First explored by the Spaniards in the 16th century and then settled by the English in the mid-17th century, Suriname became a Dutch colony in 1667. With the abolition of African slavery in 1863, workers were brought in from India and Java. The Netherlands granted the colony independence in 1975. Five years later the civilian government was replaced by a military regime that soon declared Suriname a socialist republic. It continued to exert control through a succession of nominally civilian administrations until 1987, when international pressure finally forced a democratic election. In 1990, the military overthrew the civilian leadership, but a democratically elected government - a four-party coalition - returned to power in 1991. The coalition expanded to eight parties in 2005 and ruled until August 2010, when voters returned former military leader Desire BOUTERSE and his opposition coalition to power. President BOUTERSE was reelected unopposed in 2015.

Geography

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: 163,820 sq km
land: 156,000 sq km
water: 7,820 sq km
country comparison to the world: 93

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Georgia

Land boundaries

total: 1,907 km
border countries (3): Brazil 515 km, French Guiana 556 km, Guyana 836 km

Coastline

386 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12nm
exclusive economic zone: 200nm

Climate

tropical; moderated by trade winds

Terrain

mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps

Elevation

mean elevation: 246 m
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

agricultural land: 0.5% (2011 est.)
arable land: 0.4% (2011 est.)/permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.)/permanent pasture: 0.1% (2011 est.)
forest: 94.6% (2011 est.)
other: 4.9% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land

570 sq km (2012)

Population distribution

population concentrated along the nothern coastal strip; the remainder of the country is sparsely populated

Natural hazards

flooding

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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

People and Society

Population

597,927 (July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172

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) 27.4%, "Maroon" (their African ancestors were brought to the country in the 17th and 18th centuries as slaves and escaped to the interior) 21.7%, Creole (mixed white and black) 15.7%, Javanese 13.7%, mixed 13.4%, other 7.6%, unspecified 0.6% (2012 est.)

Languages

Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang Tongo (Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is the native language of Creoles and much of the younger population and is lingua franca among others), Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese

Religions

Protestant 23.6% (includes Evangelical 11.2%, Moravian 11.2%, Reformed .7%, Lutheran .5%), Hindu 22.3%, Roman Catholic 21.6%, Muslim 13.8%, other Christian 3.2%, Winti 1.8%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, other 1.7%, none 7.5%, unspecified 3.2% (2012 est.)

Demographic profile

Suriname is a pluralistic society consisting primarily of Creoles (persons of mixed African and European heritage), the descendants of escaped African slaves known as Maroons, and the descendants of Indian and Javanese (Indonesian) contract workers. The country overall is in full, post-industrial demographic transition, with a low fertility rate, a moderate mortality rate, and a rising life expectancy. However, the Maroon population of the rural interior lags behind because of lower educational attainment and contraceptive use, higher malnutrition, and significantly less access to electricity, potable water, sanitation, infrastructure, and health care.Some 350,000 people of Surinamese descent live in the Netherlands, Suriname's former colonial ruler. In the 19th century, better-educated, largely Dutch-speaking Surinamese began emigrating to the Netherlands. World War II interrupted the outflow, but it resumed after the war when Dutch labor demands grew - emigrants included all segments of the Creole population. Suriname still is strongly influenced by the Netherlands because most Surinamese have relatives living there and it is the largest supplier of development aid. Other emigration destinations include French Guiana and the United States. Suriname's immigration rules are flexible, and the country is easy to enter illegally because rainforests obscure its borders. Since the mid-1980s, Brazilians have settled in Suriname's capital, Paramaribo, or eastern Suriname, where they mine gold. This immigration is likely to slowly re-orient Suriname toward its Latin American roots.

Age structure

0-14 years: 24.11%(male 73,466 /female 70,704)
15-24 years: 17.36%(male 52,876 /female 50,913)
25-54 years: 44.42%(male 135,282 /female 130,327)
55-64 years: 7.94%(male 23,377 /female 24,085)
65 years and over: 6.17%(male 16,019 /female 20,878) (2018 est.)
population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 50.7 (2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 40.6 (2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 10.1 (2015 est.)
potential support ratio: 9.9 (2015 est.)

Median age

total: 30.2 years (2018 est.)
male: 29.8 years
female: 30.6 years
country comparison to the world: 118

Population growth rate

1% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108

Birth rate

15.6 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117

Death rate

6.1 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161

Net migration rate

0.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69

Population distribution

population concentrated along the nothern coastal strip; the remainder of the country is sparsely populated

Urbanization

urban population: 66.1% of total population(2019)
rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)

Major urban areas - population

239,000 PARAMARIBO (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

120 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65

Infant mortality rate

total: 23.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
male: 27.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.5 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 69

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 72.8 years (2018 est.)
male: 70.3 years
female: 75.3 years
country comparison to the world: 146

Total fertility rate

1.9 children born/woman (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133

Contraceptive prevalence rate

47.6% (2010)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 98.1% of population
rural: 88.4% of population
total: 94.8% of population
unimproved: urban: 1.9% of population
rural: 11.6% of population
total: 5.2% of population (2015 est.)

Current Health Expenditure

6.1% (201)

Physicians density

1.23 physicians/1,000 population (2018)

Hospital bed density

3.1 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 88.4% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 61.4% of population (2015 est.)
total: 79.2% of population (2015 est.)
unimproved: urban: 11.6% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 38.6% of population (2015 est.)
total: 20.8% of population (2015 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.4% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

5,600 (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119

HIV/AIDS - deaths

<100 (2018 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high (2016)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever (2016)
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria (2016)
note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

26.4% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 42

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

6.4% (2010)
country comparison to the world: 77

Education expenditures

NA

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.6%
male: 96.1%
female: 95% (2015)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 13.4%
male: 9%
female: 21.9% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104

Government

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
etymology: name may derive from the indigenous "Surinen" people who inhabited the area at the time of European contact

Government type

presidential republic

Capital

name: Paramaribo
geographic coordinates: 5 50 N, 55 10 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name may be the corruption of a Carib (Kalina) village or tribe named Parmirbo

Administrative divisions

10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica

Independence

25 November 1975 (from the Netherlands)

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 November (1975)

Constitution

history: previous 1975; latest ratified 30 September 1987, effective 30 October 1987
amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership; amended 1992 (2018)

Legal system

civil law system influenced by Dutch civil law; note - a new criminal code was enacted in 2017

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Suriname
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Desire Delano BOUTERSE (since 12 August 2010); Vice President Ashwin ADHIN (since 12 August 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Desire Delano BOUTERSE (since 12 August 2010); Vice President Ashwin ADHIN (since 12 August 2015)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
elections/appointments: president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly; president and vice president serve a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 25 May 2015 (next to be held in May 2020)
election results: Desire Delano BOUTERSE reelected president unopposed; National Assembly vote - NA

Legislative branch

description: unicameral National Assembly or Nationale Assemblee (51 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by party-list proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms)
elections: last held on 25 May 2015 (next to be held in May 2020)
election results: percent of vote by party - NDP 45.5%, V7 37.2%, A-Com 10.5%, DOE 4.3%, PALU 0.7%, other 1.8%; seats by party - NDP 26, V7 18, A-Com 5, DOE 1, PALU 1; composition - men 38, women 13, percent of women 25.5%
note: seats by party as of April 2017 - seats by party - NDP 26, VHP 9, ABOP 5, PL 3, NPS 2, BEP 2, DOE 1, PALU 1, independent 2

Judicial branch

highest courts: High Court of Justice of Suriname (consists of the court president, vice president, and 4 judges); note - appeals beyond the High Court are referred to the Caribbean Court of Justice; human rights violations can be appealed to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights with judgments issued by the Inter-American Court on Human Rights
judge selection and term of office: court judges appointed by the national president in consultation with the National Assembly, the State Advisory Council, and the Order of Private Attorneys; judges serve for life
subordinate courts: cantonal courts

Political parties and leaders

Alternative Combination or A-Com (coalition includes ABOP, KTPI, Party for Democracy and Development)
Brotherhood and Unity in Politics or BEP [Celsius WATERBERG]
Democratic Alternative '91 or DA91 [Angelique DEL CASTILLO]
General Liberation and Development Party or ABOP [Ronnie BRUNSWIJK}
National Democratic Party or NDP [Desire Delano BOUTERSE]
National Party of Suriname or NPS [Gregory RUSLAND]
Party for Democracy and Development in Unity or DOE [Carl BREEVELD]
Party for National Unity and Solidarity or KTPI [Willy SOEMITA]
People's Alliance (Pertjaja Luhur) or PL [Paul SOMOHARDJO]
Progressive Workers' and Farmers' Union or PALU [Jim HOK]
Surinamese Labor Party or SPA [Guno CASTELEN]
Progressive Reform Party or VHP [Chandrikapersad SANTOKHI]
Victory 7 or V7 [Chandrikapresad SANTOKHI] (formerly the New Front for Democracy and Development or NF; an electoral coalition of NPS, VHP, DA91, PL, SPA formed only for the May 2015 election)

International organization participation

ACP, AOSIS, Caricom, CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Niermala Sakoentala BADRISING (since 21 July 2017)
chancery: 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 460, 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 Karen Lynn WILLIAMS (since 20 November 2018)
telephone: [597] 472-900
embassy: 165 Kristalstraat, Paramaribo
mailing address: US Department of State, PO Box 1821, Paramaribo
FAX: [597] 410-972

Flag description

five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red (quadruple width), white, and green (double width); a large, yellow, five-pointed star is centered in the red band; red stands for progress and love, green symbolizes hope and fertility, white signifies peace, justice, and freedom; the star represents the unity of all ethnic groups; from its yellow light the nation draws strength to bear sacrifices patiently while working toward a golden future

National symbol(s)

royal palm, faya lobi (flower); national colors: green, white, red, yellow

National anthem

name: "God zij met ons Suriname!" (God Be With Our Suriname)
lyrics/music: Cornelis Atses HOEKSTRA and Henry DE ZIEL/Johannes Corstianus DE PUY
note: adopted 1959; originally adapted from a Sunday school song written in 1893 and contains lyrics in both Dutch and Sranang Tongo

Economy

Economy - overview

Suriname’s economy is dominated by the mining industry, with exports of oil and gold accounting for approximately 85% of exports and 27% of government revenues. This makes the economy highly vulnerable to mineral price volatility. The worldwide drop in international commodity prices and the cessation of alumina mining in Suriname significantly reduced government revenue and national income during the past few years. In November 2015, a major US aluminum company discontinued its mining activities in Suriname after 99 years of operation. Public sector revenues fell, together with exports, international reserves, employment, and private sector investment.Economic growth declined annually from just under 5% in 2012 to -10.4% in 2016. In January 2011, the government devalued the currency by 20% and raised taxes to reduce the budget deficit. Suriname began instituting macro adjustments between September 2015 and 2016; these included another 20% currency devaluation in November 2015 and foreign currency interventions by the Central Bank until March 2016, after which time the Bank allowed the Surinamese dollar (SRD) to float. By December 2016, the SRD had lost 46% of its value against the dollar. Depreciation of the Surinamese dollar and increases in tariffs on electricity caused domestic prices in Suriname to rise 22.0% year-over-year by December 2017.Suriname's economic prospects for the medium-term will depend on its commitment to responsible monetary and fiscal policies and on the introduction of structural reforms to liberalize markets and promote competition. The government's over-reliance on revenue from the extractive sector colors Suriname's economic outlook. Following two years of recession, the Fitch Credit Bureau reported a positive growth of 1.2% in 2017 and the World Bank predicted 2.2% growth in 2018. Inflation declined to 9%, down from 55% in 2016 , and increased gold production helped lift exports. Yet continued budget imbalances and a heavy debt and interest burden resulted in a debt-to-GDP ratio of 83% in September 2017. Purchasing power has fallen rapidly due to the devalued local currency. The government has announced its intention to pass legislation to introduce a new value-added tax in 2018. Without this and other measures to strengthen the country’s fiscal position, the government may face liquidity pressures.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$8.688 billion (2017 est.)
$8.526 billion (2016 est.)
$8.988 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 162

GDP (official exchange rate)

$3.419 billion (2017 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.9% (2017 est.)
-5.1% (2016 est.)
-2.6% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$14,900 (2017 est.)
$14,800 (2016 est.)
$15,900 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 114

Gross national saving

46.6% of GDP (2017 est.)
55.6% of GDP (2016 est.)
53.6% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 27.6% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 11.7% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 52.5% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 26.5% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 68.9% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -60.6% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 11.6% (2017 est.)
industry: 31.1% (2017 est.)
services: 57.4% (2017 est.)

Agriculture - products

rice, bananas, seabob shrimp, yellow-fin tuna, vegetables

Industries

gold mining, oil, lumber, food processing, fishing

Industrial production growth rate

1% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158

Labor force

144,000 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 11.2%
industry: 19.5%
services: 69.3% (2010)

Unemployment rate

8.9% (2017 est.)
9.7% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129

Population below poverty line

70% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Budget

revenues: 560.7 million (2017 est.)
expenditures: 827.8 million (2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

16.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-7.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197

Public debt

69.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
75.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52

Fiscal year

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

22% (2017 est.)
55.5% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216

Central bank discount rate

10% (2013)
9% (2012)
country comparison to the world: 24

Commercial bank prime lending rate

14.43% (31 December 2017 est.)
13.49% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46

Stock of narrow money

$1.158 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$921.8 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154

Stock of broad money

$1.158 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$921.8 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159

Stock of domestic credit

$1.608 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.404 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159

Market value of publicly traded shares

NA

Current account balance

-$2 million (2017 est.)
-$169 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69

Exports

$2.028 billion (2017 est.)
$1.449 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140

Exports - partners

Switzerland 38%, Hong Kong 21.9%, Belgium 10.1%, UAE 7.2%, Guyana 6.1% (2017)

Exports - commodities

alumina, gold, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas

Imports

$1.293 billion (2017 est.)
$1.203 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177

Imports - commodities

capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods

Imports - partners

US 30.6%, Netherlands 14.8%, Trinidad and Tobago 11.4%, China 7.6% (2017)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$424.4 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$381.1 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158

Debt - external

$1.7 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.436 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

(31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

Surinamese dollars (SRD) per US dollar -
7.53 (2017 est.)
6.229 (2016 est.)
6.229 (2015 est.)
3.4167 (2014 est.)
3.3 (2013 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 87.2% (2016)
electrification - urban areas: 96.4% (2016)
electrification - rural areas: 69.3% (2016)

Electricity - production

1.967 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138

Electricity - consumption

1.75 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206

Electricity - installed generating capacity

504,000 kW (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149

Electricity - from fossil fuels

61% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

38% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56

Electricity - from other renewable sources

2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145

Crude oil - production

17,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200

Crude oil - imports

820 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80

Crude oil - proved reserves

84.2 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70

Refined petroleum products - production

7,571 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101

Refined petroleum products - consumption

13,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157

Refined petroleum products - exports

14,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74

Refined petroleum products - imports

10,700 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

2.075 million Mt (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 89,030
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 795,871
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 134 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162

Telephone system

general assessment: international facilities are good; state-owned fixed-line and broadband services; competition in the mobile sector; fixed-line effective along the coastline and poor in the interior (2018)
domestic: fixed-line 15 per 100 and mobile-cellular teledensity 134 telephones per 100 persons; microwave radio relay network is in place (2018)
international: country code - 597; landing point for the SG-SCS submarine cable linking South America with the Caribbean; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)

Broadcast media

2 state-owned TV stations; 1 state-owned radio station; multiple private radio and TV stations (2019)

Internet country code

.sr

Internet users

total: 265,964
percent of population: 45.4% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 71,217
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125

Military and Security

Military and security forces

Suriname Army (National Leger, NL): Army, Navy, Air Force, Military Police (2019)

Military service age and obligation

18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2019)

Transportation

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 2 (2015)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 5 (2015)
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 259,682 (2015)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 29,324,319mt-km (2015)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

PZ (2016)

Airports

55 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 86

Airports - with paved runways

total: 6 (2013)
over 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
under 914 m: 5 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 49 (2013)
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2013)
under 914 m: 45 (2013)

Pipelines

50 km oil (2013)

Roadways

total: 4,304 km (2003)
paved: 1,119 km (2003)
unpaved: 3,185 km (2003)
country comparison to the world: 147

Waterways

1,200 km(most navigable by ships with drafts up to 7 m) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 59

Merchant marine

total: 10
by type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 3, other 2 (2018)
country comparison to the world: 152

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Paramaribo, Wageningen

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international

area claimed by French Guiana between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa); Suriname claims a triangle of land between the New and Kutari/Koetari rivers in a historic dispute over the headwaters of the Courantyne; Guyana seeks UN Convention on the Law of the Sea arbitration to resolve the longstanding dispute with Suriname over the axis of the territorial sea boundary in potentially oil-rich waters

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Suriname is a source, transit, and destination country for women and children subjected to sex trafficking and men, women, and children subjected to forced labor; women and girls from Suriname, Guyana, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic are subjected to sex trafficking in the country, sometimes in interior mining camps; migrant workers in agriculture and on fishing boats and children working in informal urban sectors and gold mines are vulnerable to forced labor; traffickers from Suriname exploit victims in the Netherlands
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – Suriname does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; in 2014, Suriname was granted a waiver from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3 because its government has a written plan that, if implemented, would constitute making significant efforts to bring itself into compliance with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; authorities increased the number of trafficking investigations, prosecutions, and convictions as compared to 2013, but resources were insufficient to conduct investigations in the country’s interior; more trafficking victims were identified in 2014 than in 2013, but protective services for adults and children were inadequate, with a proposed government shelter for women and child trafficking victims remaining unopened (2015)

Illicit drugs

growing transshipment point for South American drugs destined for Europe via the Netherlands and Brazil; transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing

Flag of Suriname