kids encyclopedia robot

Suriname facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Republic of Suriname

Republiek Suriname  (Dutch)
Coat of arms of Suriname
Coat of arms
Motto: Justitia - Pietas - Fides  (Latin)
"Justice - Duty - Loyalty"
Anthem: God zij met ons Suriname   (Dutch)
('God be with our Suriname')
Location of Suriname
Capital
and largest city
 Paramaribo
Official languages Dutch
Demonym(s) Surinamese
Government Constitutional democracy
Dési Bouterse
• Vice-President
 Robert Ameerali
Independence
• from Netherlands
 25 November 1975
Area
• Total
 163,821 km2 (63,252 sq mi) (91st)
• Water (%)
 1.1
Population
• 2011 estimate
 491,989 (167th)
• 2004 census
 492,829
• Density
 2.9/km2 (7.5/sq mi) (231st)
GDP (PPP) 2009 estimate
• Total
 $4.510 billion
• Per capita
 $8,642
GDP (nominal) 2009 estimate
• Total
 $2.962 billion
• Per capita
 $5,675
HDI (2012) Increase 0.716
high · 76th
Currency Surinamese dollar (SRD)
Time zone UTC-3 (ART)
• Summer (DST)
 UTC-3 (not observed)
Driving side left
Calling code 597
ISO 3166 code SR
Internet TLD .sr

Suriname, or Surinam, Dutch Guiana, Dutch Guyana or Sranang is a country in South America. The official name of the country is Republiek Suriname (this is Dutch and translates to Republic of Suriname). It used to be known as Nederlands Guyana, Netherlands Guiana or Dutch Guiana. It is between Guyana and French Guiana. Paramaribo is the capital city. About half a million people live in the country. Suriname became independent from the Netherlands in 1975. Before that, it was a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Suriname with disputed territories
Map of Suriname, with the disputed territories shown

There are border disputes with French Guiana and Guyana all to the south of the country.

The industry of the country is centered on the mining and processing of bauxite. This makes up 15 percent of the Gross Domestic Product and more than 70% of the exports. Other exports are sugar, oil and gold. About 25% of the working people are employed in agriculture. The main trade partners are the Netherlands, the United States and countries in the Caribbean.

Dutch, French, Spanish and English explorers discovered the area in the early 16th century. A century later, sugar plantation colonies were established by the Dutch and English along the many rivers in the fertile Guyana plains. After the second Anglo-Dutch War England traded any claims to the territory for New Amsterdam which became New York.

Biodiversity

Dendrobates azureus (Dendrobates tinctorius) Edit
The blue poison dart frog is endemic to Suriname.

Due to the variety of habitats and temperatures, biodiversity in Suriname is considered high. In October 2013, 16 international scientists researching the ecosystems during a three-week expedition in Suriname's Upper Palumeu River Watershed cataloged 1,378 species and found 60—including six frogs, one snake, and 11 fish—that may be previously unknown species. According to the environmental non-profit Conservation International, which funded the expedition, Suriname's ample supply of fresh water is vital to the biodiversity and healthy ecosystems of the region.

Snakewood (Brosimum guianense), a shrub-like tree, is native to this tropical region of the Americas. Customs in Suriname report that snakewood is often illegally exported to French Guiana, thought to be for the crafts industry.

Related pages

Images for kids

  • Maroon village, Suriname River, 1955

    Maroon village, along Suriname River, 1955

  • Presidential palace, Paramaribo, Suriname

    Presidential Palace of Suriname

  • Water-front houses in Paramaribo, 1955

    Waterfront houses in Paramaribo, 1955

  • COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Suriname immigranten afkomstig uit Nederlands-Indië de vrouw rechts draagt een peniti tak broche TMnr 60008927

    Javanese immigrants brought as contract workers from the Dutch East Indies. Picture taken between 1880 and 1900.

  • Tropenmuseum Royal Tropical Institute Objectnumber 10019010 Groep Nederlandse kolonisten op de bo

    Dutch colonists, 1920. Most Europeans left after independence in 1975.

  • Henck Arron, Beatrix, Johan Ferrier 1975

    Henck Arron, Beatrix and Johan Ferrier on November 25, 1975

  • AssembleeSurinaam

    National Assembly

  • Paramaribo, Hof van Justitie (Court of Justice)

    Court of Justice

  • Suriname districts numbered

    Districts of Suriname

  • Suriname Export Treemap

    Suriname Exports 2012 including artificial corundum

  • Financien

    Ministry of Finance.

  • Suriname demography

    The population of Suriname from 1961 to 2003, (in units of 1000). The slowdown and decline in population growth from ~1969-1985 reflects a mass migration to the Netherlands.

  • Tropenmuseum Royal Tropical Institute Objectnumber 60008924 Een groep Brits-Indische immigranten

    Butcher market in Paramaribo with signs written in Dutch.

  • Kerstoudjaar 037

    Pagara (red firecracker ribbons).

  • Cathedral Paramaribo

    The Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul in Paramaribo

  • Arya Dewaker, exterior5

    Arya Dewaker Temple.

  • Brugboot3

    Jules Wijdenbosch Bridge.

  • Synagoge next to a mosque

    Mosque next to a synagogue in Paramaribo.

  • Paramaribo Palmentuin

    Palmentuin (Garden of Palms).

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Surinam para niños

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Suriname Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.