CIA World Fact Book, 2004/Suriname


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!| Background:
 * Independence from the Netherlands was granted in 1975. Five years later the civilian government was replaced by a military regime that soon declared a socialist republic. It continued to rule through a succession of nominally civilian administrations until 1987, when international pressure finally forced a democratic election. In 1989, the military overthrew the civilian government, but a democratically-elected government returned to power in 1991.
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!| Location: !| Geographic coordinates: !| Map references: !| Area: water: 1,800 sq km land: 161,470 sq km !| Area - comparative: !| Land boundaries: border countries: Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km !| Coastline: !| Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm !| Climate: !| Terrain: !| Elevation extremes: highest point: Juliana Top 1,230 m !| Natural resources: !| Land use: permanent crops: 0.06% other: 99.57% (2001) !| Irrigated land: !| Natural hazards: !| Environment - current issues: !| Environment - international agreements: signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements !| Geography - note:
 * Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana
 * 4 00 N, 56 00 W
 * South America
 * total: 163,270 sq km
 * slightly larger than Georgia
 * total: 1,707 km
 * 386 km
 * territorial sea: 12 nm
 * tropical; moderated by trade winds
 * mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps
 * lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m
 * timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore
 * arable land: 0.37%
 * 490 sq km (1998 est.)
 * NA
 * deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of inland waterways by small-scale mining activities
 * party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
 * 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
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!| Population: !| Age structure: 15-64 years: 63.7% (male 142,656; female 135,819) 65 years and over: 6.1% (male 11,914; female 14,735) (2004 est.) !| Median age: male: 25.4 years female: 26.3 years (2004 est.) !| Population growth rate: !| Birth rate: !| Death rate: !| Net migration rate: !| Sex ratio: under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2004 est.) !| Infant mortality rate: female: 19.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) male: 28.24 deaths/1,000 live births !| Life expectancy at birth: male: 66.77 years female: 71.55 years (2004 est.) !| Total fertility rate: !| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: !| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: !| HIV/AIDS - deaths: !| Nationality: adjective: Surinamese !| Ethnic groups: !| Religions: !| Languages: !| Literacy: total population: 93% male: 95% female: 91% (1995 est.)
 * 436,935 (July 2004 est.)
 * 0-14 years: 30.2% (male 67,588; female 64,223)
 * total: 25.8 years
 * 0.31% (2004 est.)
 * 18.87 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
 * 6.99 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
 * -8.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
 * at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
 * total: 24.15 deaths/1,000 live births
 * total population: 69.1 years
 * 2.37 children born/woman (2004 est.)
 * 1.2% (2001 est.)
 * 3,700 (2001 est.)
 * less than 500 (2003 est.)
 * noun: Surinamer(s)
 * 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%, "Maroons" (their African ancestors were brought to the country in the 17th and 18th centuries as slaves and escaped to the interior) 10%, Amerindian 2%, Chinese 2%, white 1%, other 2%
 * Hindu 27.4%, Muslim 19.6%, Roman Catholic 22.8%, Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian), indigenous beliefs 5%
 * 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
 * definition: age 15 and over can read and write
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!| Country name: conventional short form: Suriname local short form: Suriname former: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana local long form: Republiek Suriname !| Government type: !| Capital: !| Administrative divisions: !| Independence: !| National holiday: !| Constitution: !| Legal system: !| Suffrage: !| Executive branch: head of government: President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12 August 2000); Vice President Jules Rattankoemar AJODHIA (since 12 August 2000); 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 elections: president and vice president elected by the National Assembly or, if no presidential or vice presidential candidate receives a constitutional majority 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 6 May 2000 (next to be held NA May 2005) election results: Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN elected president by the National Assembly; percent of legislative vote - Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN 72.5%; Rashied DOEKHIE (NDP) 19.6%; total votes cast - Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (New Front) 37 votes, Rashied DOEKHIE (NDP) 10 votes note: widespread demonstrations during the summer of 1999 led to the call for elections a year early !| Legislative branch: election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NF 33, MC 10, DNP 2000 3, DA '91 2, PVF 2, PALU 1 note: widespread demonstrations during the summer of 1999 led to the call for elections a year early elections: last held 5 May 2000 (next to be held NA May 2005) !| Judicial branch: !| Political parties and leaders: !| Political pressure groups and leaders: !| International organization participation: !| Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX: [1] (202) 244-5878 consulate(s) general: Miami telephone: [1] (202) 244-7488 chancery: Suite 460, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 !| Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo mailing address: Department of State, 3390 Paramaribo Place, Washington, DC, 20521-3390 telephone: [597] 472900 FAX: [597] 420800 !| Flag description:
 * conventional long form: Republic of Suriname
 * constitutional democracy
 * Paramaribo
 * 10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica
 * 25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)
 * Independence Day, 25 November (1975)
 * ratified 30 September 1987
 * based on Dutch legal system incorporating French penal theory
 * 18 years of age; universal
 * chief of state: President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12 August 2000); Vice President Jules Rattankoemar AJODHIA (since 12 August 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
 * unicameral National Assembly or Nationale Assemblee (51 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
 * Court of Justice (justices are nominated for life)
 * Democratic Alternative '91 or DA '91 (a coalition of the Alternative Forum or AF and Party for Brotherhood and Unity in Politics or BEP, formed in January 1991) [Winston JESSURUN]; Democratic National Platform 2000 or DNP 2000 (coalition of two parties, Democratic Party and Democrats of the 21st Century) [Jules WIJDENBOSCH]; Independent Progressive Democratic Alternative or OPDA [Joginder RAMKHILAWAN]; Millennium Combination or MC (a coalition of three parties, Democratic Alternative, Party for National Unity and Solidarity, and National Democratic Party) [leader NA]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Desire BOUTERSE]; Naya Kadam or NK [leader NA]; Party for Renewal and Democracy or BVD [Tjan GOBARDHAN]; Party of National Unity and Solidarity or KTPI [Willy SOEMITA]; Pertjaja Luhur [Paul SOMOHARDJO]; Progressive Workers' and Farm Laborers' Union or PALU [Ir Iwan KROLIS]; The New Front or NF (a coalition of four parties Suriname National Party or NPS, Progressive Reform Party or VHP, Suriname Labor Party or SPA, and Pertjaja Luhur) [Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN]; The Progressive Development Alliance (a combination of three parties, Renewed Progressive Party or HPP, Party of the Federation of Land Workers or PVF, and Suriname Progressive People's Party or PSV) [Harry KISOENSINGH]
 * General Liberation and Development Party or ABOP [Ronnie BRUNSWIJK]; Mandela Bushnegro Liberation Movement [Leendert ADAMS]; Tucayana Amazonica [Alex JUBITANA, Thomas SABAJO]; Union for Liberation and Democracy [Kofi AFONGPONG]
 * ACP, Caricom, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
 * chief of mission: Ambassador Henry Lothar ILLES
 * chief of mission: Ambassador Marsha E. BARNES
 * 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
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!| Economy - overview: !| GDP: !| GDP - real growth rate: !| GDP - per capita: !| GDP - composition by sector: industry: 22% services: 65% (2001 est.) !| Population below poverty line: !| Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%: NA !| Inflation rate (consumer prices): !| Labor force: !| Labor force - by occupation: !| Unemployment rate: !| Budget: expenditures: $403 million, including capital expenditures of $34 million (1997 est.) !| Agriculture - products: !| Industries: !| Industrial production growth rate: !| Electricity - production: !| Electricity - consumption: !| Electricity - exports: !| Electricity - imports: !| Oil - production: !| Oil - consumption: !| Oil - exports: !| Oil - imports: !| Oil - proved reserves: !| Natural gas - proved reserves: !| Exports: !| Exports - commodities: !| Exports - partners: !| Imports: !| Imports - commodities: !| Imports - partners: !| Debt - external: !| Economic aid - recipient: !| Currency: !| Currency code: !| Exchange rates: note: during 1998, the exchange rate splintered into four distinct rates; in January 1999 the government floated the guilder, but subsequently fixed it when the black-market rate plunged; the government currently allows trading within a band of SRG 500 around the official rate !| Fiscal year:
 * The economy is dominated by the bauxite industry, which accounts for more than 15% of GDP and 70% of export earnings. 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. The government of Ronald VENETIAAN has begun an austerity program, raised taxes, and attempted to control spending. However, in 2002, President VENETIAAN agreed to a large pay raise for civil servants, which threatens his earlier gains in stabilizing the economy. The Dutch Government has agreed to restart the aid flow, which will allow Suriname to access international development financing. The short-term economic outlook depends on the government's ability to control inflation and on the development of projects in the bauxite and gold mining sectors.
 * purchasing power parity - $1.752 billion (2003 est.)
 * 5% (2003 est.)
 * purchasing power parity - $4,000 (2003 est.)
 * agriculture: 13%
 * 70% (2002 est.)
 * lowest 10%: NA
 * 17% (2002 est.)
 * 100,000
 * agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA
 * 17% (2000)
 * revenues: $393 million
 * paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts; beef, chickens; forest products; shrimp
 * bauxite and gold mining, alumina production, oil, lumbering, food processing, fishing
 * 6.5% (1994 est.)
 * 1.959 billion kWh (2001)
 * 1.822 billion kWh (2001)
 * 0 kWh (2001)
 * 0 kWh (2001)
 * 10,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
 * 10,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
 * NA (2001)
 * NA (2001)
 * 37 million bbl (1 January 2002)
 * 0 cu m (1 January 2002)
 * $495 million f.o.b. (2002)
 * alumina, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas
 * US 23.3%, Norway 18.4%, Belgium 12.5%, France 10.1%, Trinidad and Tobago 7.1%, Iceland 4.7%, Italy 4.3%, Netherlands 4.2% (2003)
 * $604 million f.o.b. (2002)
 * capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods
 * US 31.5%, Netherlands 18.2%, Trinidad and Tobago 12.5%, China 6.8%, Japan 6.4% (2003)
 * $321 million (2002 est.)
 * Netherlands provided $37 million for project and program assistance, European Development Fund $4 million, Belgium $2 million (1998)
 * Surinamese guilder (SRG)
 * SRG
 * Surinamese guilders per US dollar - NA (2003), 2,346.75 (2002), 2,178.5 (2001), 1,322.47 (2000), 859.437 (1999)
 * calendar year
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!| Telephones - main lines in use: !| Telephones - mobile cellular: !| Telephone system: domestic: microwave radio relay network international: country code - 597; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) !| Radio broadcast stations: !| Radios: !| Television broadcast stations: !| Televisions: !| Internet country code: !| Internet hosts: !| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): !| Internet users:
 * 79,800 (2003)
 * 168,100 (2003)
 * general assessment: international facilities are good
 * AM 4, FM 13, shortwave 1 (1998)
 * 300,000 (1997)
 * 3 (plus seven repeaters) (2000)
 * 63,000 (1997)
 * .sr
 * 18 (2003)
 * 2 (2000)
 * 20,000 (2002)
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!| Highways: paved: 1,168 km unpaved: 3,324 km (2000) !| Waterways: !| Pipelines: !| Ports and harbors: !| Merchant marine: by type: cargo 1, container 1 (2004 est.) !| Airports: !| Airports - with paved runways: over 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.) !| Airports - with unpaved runways: 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 35 (2004 est.)
 * total: 4,492 km
 * 1,200 km (most navigable by ships with drafts up to 7 m) (2003)
 * oil 51 km (2004)
 * Albina, Moengo, New Nickerie, Paramaribo, Paranam, Wageningen
 * total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,421 GRT/2,990 DWT
 * 46 (2003 est.)
 * total: 5
 * total: 41
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!| Military branches: !| Military manpower - military age and obligation: !| Military manpower - availability: !| Military manpower - fit for military service: !| Military expenditures - dollar figure: !| Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
 * National Army (includes small Navy and Air Force elements)
 * 18 years of age (est.); no conscription
 * males age 15-49: 124,260 (2004 est.)
 * males age 15-49: 72,576 (2004 est.)
 * $7.5 million (2003)
 * 0.7% (2003)
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