Suriname

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM 32, 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

3 (in addition, there are seven repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

59,598 (1993 est.)

Agriculture--products

paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts; beef, chickens; forest products; shrimp

Budget

revenues: $393 million expenditures: $403 million, including capital expenditures of $34 million (1997 est.)

Currency

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

Debt--external

$216 million (1996 est.)

Economic aid--recipient

$76.4 million (1995); note?the Netherlands provided a $127 million aid package to Aruba and Suriname in 1996

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. 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.

Electricity--consumption

1.62 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--production

1.62 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source

fossil fuel: 19.75% hydro: 80.25% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates

Surinamese guilders, gulden, or florins (Sf.) per US$1--850 (January 1999); central bank midpoint rate: 401.00 (1998), 401.00 (1997), 401.26 (1996), 442.23 (1995), 134.12 (1994); parallel rate: 800 (December 1998), 412 (December 1995), 510 (December 1994) note: beginning 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

Exports

$548.84 million (1997)

Exports--commodities

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

Exports--partners

Norway 24%, Netherlands 22%, US 22%, France 9.5%, Japan 7.6%, UK 6.5% (1997)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity--$1.48 billion (1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector

agriculture: 10% industry: 32% services: 58% (1996)

GDP--per capita

purchasing power parity?$3,500 (1998 est.)

GDP--real growth rate

2% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$551.8 million (1997)

Imports--commodities

capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods

Imports--partners

US 48%, Netherlands 21.2%, UK 5.1%, Japan 4% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate

6.5% (1994 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

20% (1998 est.)

Labor force

NA

Labor force--by occupation

agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

20% (1997)

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; pollution of inland waterways by small-scale mining activities

Environment--international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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

Geographic coordinates

4 00 N, 56 00 W

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

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: NA% permanent crops: NA% 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, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore

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

Capital

Paramaribo

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Arnold Theodoor HALFHIDE chancery: Suite 460, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Miami

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: First Advisor of State maintains significant power 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 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 votes cast by the People's Assembly--Jules WIJDENBOSCH (NDP) received 438 votes, Ronald VENETIAAN (NF) received 407 votes

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, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (justices nominated for life)

Legal system

based on Dutch legal system incorporating French penal theory

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or National Assemblee (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, Pertjaja Luhur 4, The Progressive Development Alliance 3, DA '91 2, OPDA 2

National holiday

Independence Day, 25 November (1975)

Political parties and leaders

The New Front or NF (a coalition Democratic Alternative '91 or DA '91 (a coalition of the AF and BEP, Development Alliance (a combination of two parties, HPP and PVF)

Political pressure groups and leaders

Union for Liberation and

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Military branches

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

Military expenditures--dollar figure

$8.5 million (1997 est.)

Military expenditures--percent of GDP

1.6% (1997 est.)

Military manpower--availability

males age 15-49: 118,686 (1999 est.)

Military manpower--fit for military service

males age 15-49: 69,842 (1999 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 33% (male 72,673; female 69,212) 15-64 years: 62% (male 135,573; female 130,700) 65 years and over: 5% (male 10,585; female 12,413) (1999 est.)

Birth rate

21.75 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate

5.75 deaths/1,000 population (1999 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 and escaped to the interior) 10.3%, Amerindian 2.6%, Chinese 1.7%, white 1%, other 1.1%

Infant mortality rate

26.52 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 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: 70.89 years male: 68.32 years female: 73.59 years (1999 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

-8.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population

431,156 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate

0.71% (1999 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: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.55 children born/woman (1999 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

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for South American drugs destined mostly for Europe

Airports

46 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways

total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 4 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways

total: 41 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 34 (1998 est.)

Highways

total: 4,530 km paved: 1,178 km unpaved: 3,352 km (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