Suriname

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM 14, shortwave 1

Radios

290,256 (1993 est.)

Telephone system

international facilities good domestic: microwave radio relay network international : satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones

43,522 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations

6 (1987 est.)

Televisions

59,598 (1993 est.)

Agriculture - products

paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts; beef, chicken; forest products and shrimp of increasing importance

Budget

revenues: $205 million expenditures: $174 million, including capital expenditures of $12 million (1995 est.)

Currency

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

Debt - external

$198 million (1994)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, the Netherlands provided a 1996 aid package of $224 million to Suriname, Aruba, and the Netherlands Antilles

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 1995-96. The government unified the exchange rate and maintained a fairly tight monetary policy. Inflation apparently has been eliminated, and tax revenues have increased sufficiently to 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 has helped buoy the economy. Suriname's economic prospects for the medium term will depend on continued implementation of economic restructuring. The new government elected in the fall of 1996 has sent mixed signals about commitment to these reforms.

Electricity - capacity

389,000 kW 000 kW

Electricity - consumption per capita

2,929 kWh (1995)

Electricity - production

1.402 billion kWh

Exchange rates

Surinamese guilders, gulden, or florins (Sf.) per US$1 - central bank midpoint rate: 401.00 (January 1997), 401.26 (1996), 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

Exports

total value: $432 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: alumina, aluminum, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas partners: Norway 33%, Netherlands 26%, US 13%, Japan 6%, Brazil 6%, UK 3% (1994)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $1.4 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 14% industry : 33% services: 53% (1994)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $3,150 (1996 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3% (1996 est.)

Imports

total value: $418 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities : capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods partners: US 40%, Netherlands 24%, Trinidad and Tobago 11%, Japan 3% (1994)

Industrial production growth rate

6.5% (1994 est.)

Industries

bauxite and gold mining, alumina and aluminum production, lumbering, food processing, fishing

Inflation rate - consumer price index

0% (1996 est.)

Labor force

NA by occupation: agriculture, industry, services

Unemployment rate

NA%

Area

total: 163,270 sq km land: 161,470 sq km water: 1,800 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Georgia

Climate

tropical; moderated by trade winds

Coastline

386 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point : unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m highest point: Wilhelmina Gebergte 1,286 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation as timber is cut for export

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates

4 00 N, 56 00 W

Geography - 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

Irrigated land

600 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 1,707 km border countries: Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km

Land use

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 96% other : 4% (1993 est.)

Location

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

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

timber, hydropower potential, fish, shrimp, bauxite, iron ore, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, gold

Terrain

mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps

Administrative divisions

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

Constitution

ratified 30 September 1987

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

Data code

NS

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis K. HAYS embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo mailing address : P. O. Box 1821, American Embassy Paramaribo, Department of State, Washington, DC, 20521-3390 telephone: [597] 472900, 477881, 476459

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Cicyl G. ALWART chancery: Suite 108, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 244-7488, 7490 through 7492

Executive branch

chief of state: President Jules WIJDENBOSCH (since 14 September 1996); Vice President Pretaapnarian RADHAKISHUN (since 14 September 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Jules WIJDENBOSCH (since 14 September 1996); Vice President Pretaapnarian RADHAKISHUN (since 14 September 1996); 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 note: Commander in Chief of the National Army maintains significant power elections: president and vice president elected by the National Assembly for five-year terms; election last held 23 May 1996; runoff election held 5 September 1996 (next to be held NA May 2001) election results: Jules WIJDENBOSCH elected president; percent of legislative vote NA; National Assembly failed to elect president; results reflect the People's Assembly votes - Jules WIJDENBOSCH (NDP) 438, Ronald VENETIAAN (NF) 407

FAX

[1] (202) 244-5878 consulate(s) general: Miami

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

Government type

republic

Independence

25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, justices nominated for life

Legal system

NA

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (51 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections : last held 23 May 1996 (next to be held NA May 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDP 16, NF 14, BVD 5, KTPI 5, DA'91 4, Pendawa Lima 4, Alliance 3

National capital

Paramaribo

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 November (1975)

Political parties and leaders

The New Front (NF), a coalition of three parties (NPS, VHP, 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), Rick VAN RAVENSWAY; Party for Brotherhood and Unity in Politics (BEP), Caprino ALLENDY; Pendawa Lima, Paul SOMOHARDJO; National Democratic Party (NDP), Desire BOUTERSE; Progressive Workers' and Farm Laborers' Union (PALU), Ir Iwan KROLIS; The Progressive Development Alliance, a combination of three parties (DP, HPP, PVF), Frank PLAYFAIR; Democratic Party (DP), Frank PLAYFAIR; Reformed Progressive Party (HPP), Harry KISOENSINGH; Party of the Federation of Land Workers PVF), Jwan SITAL; Party for Renewal and Democracy (BVD), Atta MUNGRA; Independent Progressive Democratic Alternative (OPDA), Joginder RAMKHILAWAN

Political pressure groups and leaders

Union for Liberation and Democracy, Kofi AFONGPONG; Mandela Bushnegro Liberation Movement, Leendert ADAMS; Tucayana Amazonica, Alex JUBITANA, Thomas SABAJO; General Liberation and Development Party (ABOP), George TIRINI

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

NA%

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 121,618 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males: 71,811 (1997 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 34% (male 73,017; female 69,538) 15-64 years: 61% (male 132,188; female 128,260) 65 years and over: 5% (male 10,033; female 11,533) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate

23.2 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate

5.83 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

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 15.3%, "Maroons" (their African ancestors were brought to the country in the 17th and 18th centuries as slaves) 10.3%, Amerindian 2.6%, Chinese 1.7%, white 1%, other 1.1%

Infant mortality rate

28.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 70.32 years male: 67.78 years female: 72.99 years (1997 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93% male: 95% female: 91% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Surinamer(s) adjective: Surinamese

Net migration rate

-9.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population

424,569 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate

0.83% (1997 est.)

Religions

Hindu 27.4%, Muslim 19.6%, Roman Catholic 22.8%, Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian), indigenous beliefs 5%

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: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.64 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Disputes - international

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)

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for South American drugs destined mostly for Europe SVALBARD (territory of Norway)

Airports

38 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 32 over 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 31 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total : 6 914 to 1,523 m: 6 (1996 est.)

Highways

total: 4,470 km paved : 1,162 km unpaved: 3,308 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,421 GRT/2,990 DWT ships by type: cargo 1, container 1 (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors

Albina, Moengo, New Nickerie, Paramaribo, Paranam, Wageningen

Railways

total: 166 km (single track) standard gauge: 80 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 86 km 1.000-m gauge

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