Suriname facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Republic of Suriname Republiek Suriname  (Dutch)
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Justitia – Pietas – Fides  (Latin) Gerechtigheid – Vroomheid – Vertrouwen  (Dutch) "Justice – Piety – Trust"
Anthem: God zij met ons Suriname  (Dutch) "God be with our Suriname"
Land controlled by Suriname shown in dark green; claimed land shown in light green.
Capital and largest city	Paramaribo 5°50′N 55°10′W / 5.833°N 55.167°W / 5.833; -55.167
Official languages	Dutch
Recognised regional languages	8 indigenous languages Akurio Arawak-Lokono Carib-Kari'nja Sikiana-Kashuyana Tiro-Tiriyó Waiwai Warao Wayana
Other languages	15 languages Sranantongo Sarnami Hindustani Surinamese-Javanese Ndyuka Saramaccan Matawai Aluku Paramaccan Kwinti Chinese Lebanese Arabic English French Portuguese Spanish
Ethnic groups (2012)	42.6% Asian Surinamese 27.4% Indian 13.7% Javanese 1.5% Chinese 37.4% Afro-Surinamese 21.7% Maroon 15.7% Creole 13.4% Multiracial 3.8% Indigenous 0.3% European 1.9% Others
Religion (2012)	48.4% Christianity 26.75 Protestantism 21.65% Roman Catholicism 22.3% Hinduism 17.97% Sanātanī 3.08% Arya Samaj 1.23% Other Hindu 13.9% Islam 3.91% Sunni 2.61% Ahmadiyya 7.34% Other Muslim 1.8% Winti 0.8% Kejawèn 0.03% Judaism 7.52% Irreligion 2.04% Not stated 1.11% Don't know 0.85% Others
Demonym(s)	Surinamese
Government	Unitary assembly-independent republic
• President	Chan Santokhi
• Vice President	Ronnie Brunswijk
• National Assembly Chairman	Marinus Bee
Legislature	National Assembly
Independence  from the Netherlands
• Constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands	15 December 1954
• Independence from the Kingdom of the Netherlands	25 November 1975
Area
• Total	163,820 km2 (63,250 sq mi) (90th)
• Water (%)	1.1
Population
• 2022 estimate	632,638 (170th)
• Density	3.9/km2 (10.1/sq mi) (231st)
GDP (PPP)	2023 estimate
• Total	$11.435 billion
• Per capita	$18,311 (91st)
GDP (nominal)	2023 estimate
• Total	$3.539 billion (173rd)
• Per capita	$5,667 (106th)
HDI (2022)	0.690 medium · 124th
Currency	Surinamese dollar (SRD)
Time zone	UTC-3 (SRT)
Driving side	left
Calling code	+597
ISO 3166 code	SR
Internet TLD	.sr

Suriname (soor-IN-a(h)m), officially the Republic of Suriname (Dutch: Republiek Suriname), is a country in northern South America. It is sometimes seen as part of the Caribbean region. Suriname is a developing country with a medium level of human development. Its economy relies a lot on its rich natural resources. These include bauxite (used for aluminum), gold, petroleum (oil), and farm products. Suriname is a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the United Nations.

Suriname is located just north of the equator. More than 90% of its land is covered by rainforests. This is the highest percentage of forest cover in the world! Suriname is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north. To the east is French Guiana, to the west is Guyana, and to the south is Brazil. It is the smallest country in South America in both population and size. It has about 575,990 people living in an area of about 163,820 square kilometers (63,251 square miles). The capital and largest city is Paramaribo. About half of all Surinamese people live there.

What's in a Name?

The name Suriname might come from an old group of people called the Surinen. They lived in the area when Europeans first arrived. The ending "-ame" is common in river and place names in Suriname. It might come from the word aima or eima in the Lokono language. This means "river mouth" or "creek mouth".

Early European explorers wrote the name of the river as "Shurinama" or "Surinamo". British settlers later spelled it "Surinam". This was the common spelling in English for a long time. When the Dutch took over, it became part of "Dutch Guiana". The official English spelling changed to "Suriname" in 1978. However, you can still see "Surinam" in some names, like Surinam Airways.

A Look at Suriname's Past

People have lived in Suriname since ancient times, as early as 4000 BC. These were different native groups, like the Arawaks and Caribs. Europeans came in the 1500s and fought over the land. By the late 1600s, the Dutch controlled most of what is now Suriname.

Under Dutch rule, Suriname was a very profitable plantation colony. They mostly grew sugar. This economy relied on African slave labor until slavery was ended in 1863. After that, workers from British India and the Dutch East Indies came to work there. In 1954, Suriname became a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. On November 25, 1975, it became an independent country. Suriname still has strong ties with the Netherlands today.

How Suriname is Governed

Suriname is a democratic republic. This means people elect their leaders. Its government is based on the Constitution of 1987. The main law-making body is the National Assembly of Suriname. It has 51 members who are elected by the people for five years.

The president of Suriname is chosen for a five-year term by the National Assembly. If they can't agree, a larger group called the People's Assembly votes. The president is the head of the government and chooses a cabinet of sixteen ministers. A vice president is also elected at the same time as the president.

The highest court is the High Court of Justice of Suriname. Its members are appointed for life by the president.

Suriname's Districts

Suriname is divided into ten main areas called districts. Each district has a commissioner chosen by the president. These districts are further split into 62 smaller areas called resorts.

	District	Capital	Area (km2)	Population (2012 census)
1	Nickerie	Nieuw Nickerie	5,353	34,233
2	Coronie	Totness	3,902	3,391
3	Saramacca	Groningen	3,636	17,480
4	Wanica	Lelydorp	443	118,222
5	Paramaribo	Paramaribo	182	240,924
6	Commewijne	Nieuw-Amsterdam	2,353	31,420
7	Marowijne	Albina	4,627	18,294
8	Para	Onverwacht	5,393	24,700
9	Sipaliwini	none	130,567	37,065
10	Brokopondo	Brokopondo	7,364	15,909
	SURINAME	Paramaribo	163,820	541,638

Exploring Suriname's Geography

Suriname is the smallest independent country in South America. It is located on the Guiana Shield. The country has two main geographic areas. The northern part is a low coastal area where most people live and farm. The southern part is covered by tropical rainforest and has very few people. This area makes up about 80% of Suriname's land.

The two main mountain ranges are the Bakhuys Mountains and the Van Asch Van Wijck Mountains. Julianatop is the highest mountain, standing at 1,286 metres (4,219 ft) tall. Suriname has the highest percentage of forest cover in the world, at 90.2%.

Suriname's Borders

Suriname is located between French Guiana to the east and Guyana to the west. Its southern border is with Brazil, and its northern border is the Atlantic Ocean coast. Some parts of the borders with French Guiana and Guyana are still being discussed between the countries.

What is Suriname's Climate Like?

Suriname is very close to the equator. This means it has a very hot and wet tropical climate. Temperatures do not change much throughout the year. The average temperature is between 29 to 34 °C (84 to 93 °F). Because of high humidity, it can feel even hotter.

The year has two wet seasons (April to August and November to February). It also has two dry seasons (August to November and February to April).

Suriname has a "carbon negative" economy. This means its large forests absorb more carbon dioxide than the country produces. This helps fight climate change.

Amazing Plants and Animals

Suriname has a lot of different plants and animals, which is called high biodiversity. This is because of its many habitats and temperatures. Scientists found 60 new species during an expedition in 2013, including frogs, a snake, and fish! Suriname's fresh water is very important for its rich natural world.

Local communities are working to protect their lands and the animals living there. The Trio and Wayana communities created a large conservation area in southern Suriname. This area is important for the country's climate and water supply.

The Central Suriname Nature Reserve is a World Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO. It is known for its untouched forests and many different species. There are also many national parks, like Galibi National Reserve and Brownsberg Nature Park. Overall, 16% of Suriname's land is protected as national parks and reserves.

Suriname's Economy

Suriname's economy has become stronger and less dependent on help from the Netherlands. In the past, bauxite mining was a big source of income. However, bauxite operations stopped in 2015.

Today, finding and mining gold and petroleum (oil) are very important for Suriname's economy. Gold exports make up 60-80% of all exports. In 2021, the gold industry was 8.5% of the country's total economic output.

The national oil company, STAATSOLIE, is a key player in the oil industry. They extract and refine oil. In 2022, they earned US$840 million and contributed US$320 million to the government.

Other important products that Suriname exports include rice, bananas, and shrimp. About a quarter of the people in Suriname work in farming. Suriname trades mostly with Switzerland, China, the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, and Caribbean countries.

Who Lives in Suriname?

In 2022, Suriname had about 618,040 people. The people of Suriname are very diverse, meaning no single group makes up the majority. This is because of many years of Dutch rule, which brought people from different countries and ethnic backgrounds to live there.

Different Ethnic Groups

Ethnic groups of Suriname
Ethnic groups			percent
Indian			27.4%
Maroon			21.7%
Creole			15.7%
Javanese			13.7%
Mixed			13.4%
Amerindian			3.8%
Chinese			1.5%
White			0.3%
Other			2.5%

The largest ethnic group is Indians, making up over a quarter of the population (27.4%). Most of them are descendants of workers who came from India in the 1800s.

If counted together, Afro-Surinamese people are the largest community, at about 37.4%. However, they are usually divided into two groups:

• Maroons: Their ancestors were enslaved people who escaped and formed their own communities in the interior. They make up 21.7% of the population. There are six main Maroon tribes.
• Creoles: These are people of mixed African and European (mostly Dutch) descent. They make up 15.7% of the population.

Javanese people make up 14% of the population. They are mostly descendants of workers from the island of Java (now Indonesia). About 13.4% of the population has mixed ethnic backgrounds. Chinese people make up 7.3%, including descendants of old workers and recent immigrants.

Other groups include Lebanese and Jews. Various native groups make up 3.7% of the population. A small number of Europeans (about 1%) also live in Suriname.

Religions in Suriname

According to the 2020 census, 52.3% of Surinamese people are Christians. This includes Protestants (26.7%) and Catholics (21.6%). Hindus are the second largest religious group, making up almost one-fifth of the population (18.8% in 2020). This is one of the highest percentages in the Western Hemisphere.

Languages Spoken in Suriname

Suriname has about 14 local languages. However, Dutch is the only official language. It is used in schools, government, business, and media. Over 60% of the population speaks Dutch as their first language. Another 20-30% speak it as a second language. Suriname is one of only three countries in the world where Dutch is an official language.

Sranan Tongo, an English-based creole language, is widely used in daily life and business. It is often used interchangeably with Dutch. Dutch is seen as more formal, while Sranan Tongo is more common for everyday talk.

Sarnami Hindustani is the third most used language. It is spoken mainly by descendants of Indian workers. The six Maroon languages are also English-based creole languages. Javanese is spoken by descendants of Javanese workers from Indonesia.

Other languages include Hakka and Cantonese (spoken by Chinese descendants). Mandarin is spoken by recent Chinese immigrants. You can also hear English, Portuguese, Spanish, and French near the borders.

Major Cities in Suriname

The capital city, Paramaribo, is by far the largest urban area. Almost half of Suriname's population lives there. Most cities are located along the coast or within Paramaribo's metropolitan area. About 90% of the population lives in Paramaribo or on the coast.

Largest cities or towns in Suriname
Rank		Pop.
1	Paramaribo	223 757
2	Lelydorp	18 223
3	Nieuw Nickerie	13 143
4	Moengo	7 074
5	Nieuw Amsterdam	4 935
6	Mariënburg	4 427
7	Wageningen	4 145
8	Albina	3 985
9	Groningen	3 216
10	Brownsweg	2 696

Suriname's Culture and Celebrations

Suriname's many different cultures mean it celebrates a variety of unique festivals.

National Holidays

• 1 January – New Year's Day
• January/February – Chinese New Year
• March (varies) – Phagwah
• March/April – Good Friday
• March/April – Easter
• March/April – Easter Monday
• 1 May – Labour Day
• 1 July – Keti Koti (Emancipation Day – celebrates the end of slavery)
• 9 August – Indigenous People's Day
• 10 October – Day of the Maroons
• October/November – Diwali
• 25 November – Independence Day
• 25 December – Christmas
• 26 December – Boxing Day
• varies – Eid-ul-adha
• varies – Eid-ul-Fitr
• varies – Satu Suro/Islamic New Year

Some holidays, like Diwali, Phagwa, and Eid-ul-adha, are based on the Hindu and Islamic calendars, so their dates change each year. Suriname also has unique holidays like the Indian, Javanese, and Chinese arrival days. These celebrate when the first ships with immigrants from those countries arrived.

New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve in Suriname is called Oud jaar or Owru Yari, meaning "old year". People light long firecrackers called pagaras at midnight.

Sports in Suriname

The most popular sports in Suriname are football, basketball, and volleyball. The Suriname Olympic Committee manages sports in the country. Popular mind sports include chess, draughts, bridge, and troefcall.

Many famous football players from Suriname or of Surinamese descent have played for the Dutch national team. These include Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard, Edgar Davids, and Clarence Seedorf. In 1999, Humphrey Mijnals was named Surinamese footballer of the century.

Anthony Nesty is Suriname's only Olympic medalist. He won a gold medal in swimming at the 1988 Summer Olympics and a bronze at the 1992 Olympics.

Letitia Vriesde is a well-known track and field athlete from Suriname. She won silver and bronze medals at the World Championships in the 800 meters.

Cricket is also somewhat popular, influenced by its popularity in the Netherlands and neighboring Guyana. The Surinaamse Cricket Bond is a member of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

In badminton, local heroes like Virgil Soeroredjo and Sören Opti have won many medals for Suriname. They have competed in the Summer Olympics.

Many world champion kickboxing fighters, like Ernesto Hoost and Remy Bonjasky, were born in Suriname or have Surinamese roots.

Getting Around Suriname

Roads and Driving

Suriname, like its neighbor Guyana, is one of only two countries in mainland South America where people drive on the left side of the road. This might be because the Netherlands also drove on the left when they first colonized Suriname. Even though the Netherlands changed to driving on the right later, Suriname did not.

As of 2003, Suriname had 4,303 km (2,674 miles) of roads. About 1,119 km (695 miles) of these roads are paved.

Air Travel

Suriname has 55 airports, but most are small. Only six have paved runways. The only international airport that can handle large planes is Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport.

Airlines that fly to and from Suriname include:

• American Airlines
• Blue Wing Airlines
• Gum Air
• Fly All Ways
• Surinam Airways (SLM)
• Caribbean Airlines (Trinidad and Tobago)
• KLM (Netherlands)
• Gol Transportes Aéreos (Brazil)
• Copa Airlines (Panama)
• Tui (Netherlands)

Other national companies with air operator certifications include:

Health and Education

Health in Suriname

In 2017, the death rate in Suriname was lower than in Haiti and Guyana, but higher than in Bermuda. Life expectancy in 2017 was 72 years. The main causes of death were heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

Education in Suriname

Education in Suriname is required until age 12. Most people can read and write, especially men. The main university is the Anton de Kom University of Suriname.

There are 13 grades from elementary school to high school. Elementary school has six grades, middle school has four, and high school has three. Students take a test after elementary school to decide which type of secondary school they will attend.

Visiting Suriname: Tourism and Landmarks

Most tourists come to Suriname to see the amazing biodiversity of its Amazonian rainforests. These forests are famous for their plants and animals. The Central Suriname Nature Reserve is the largest and most popular reserve. The Brownsberg Nature Park overlooks the Brokopondo Reservoir, one of the world's largest human-made lakes.

In 2008, the Berg en Dal Eco & Cultural Resort opened. Tonka Island in the reservoir has an eco-tourism project run by the Saramaccaner Maroons. They make Pangi wraps and bowls from calabashes for tourists.

Suriname also has many waterfalls. Raleigh Falls is a nature reserve with lots of birds. Other waterfalls include the Blanche Marie Falls and the Wonotobo Falls. Tafelberg Mountain and Voltzberg also have their own nature reserves. Many Maroon and Amerindian villages in the interior welcome visitors.

Suriname is special because it has protected at least one of every type of natural area it has. About 30% of Suriname's land is protected by law as reserves.

Other interesting places to visit include plantations like Laarwijk, which can only be reached by boat.

Famous Landmarks

The Jules Wijdenbosch Bridge crosses the Suriname River. It connects Paramaribo with Meerzorg. The bridge is 52 metres (171 ft) high and 1,504 metres (4,934 ft) long. It was finished in 2000 and made travel much easier.

The construction of the Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral began in 1883. Before it was a cathedral, it was a theatre.

Suriname is one of the few countries where a synagogue is located right next to a mosque. These two buildings are in the center of Paramaribo. They are known to share a parking lot when their religious services happen at the same time.

A newer landmark is the Hindu Arya Diwaker temple. It opened in 2001. This temple is unique because it does not have statues of Hindu gods. Instead, it is covered with texts from Hindu scriptures. Its special architecture makes it a popular tourist spot.

Images for kids

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  Land controlled by Suriname shown in dark green; claimed land shown in light green.

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  The national flag of Suriname.

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  The coat of arms of Suriname.

See also

In Spanish: Surinam para niños