Suriname

World Book Index

Introduction

Background
The Spaniards first explored Suriname in the 16th century, and the English then settled it in the mid-17th century. Suriname became a Dutch colony in 1667; the Netherlands granted the colony independence in 1975.

Geography

Area
total : 163,820 sq km
land: 156,000 sq km
water: 7,820 sq km

Climate
tropical; moderated by trade winds

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

People and Society

Population
total: 646,758 (2024 est.)

Ethnic groups
Hindustani (also known locally as "East Indians"; their ancestors emigrated from northern India in the latter part of the 19th century) 27.4%, Maroon (their African ancestors were brought to the country in the 17th and 18th centuries as slaves and escaped to the interior) 21.7%, Creole (mixed White and Black) 15.7%, Javanese 13.7%, mixed 13.4%, other 7.6%, unspecified 0.6% (2012 est.)

Languages
Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang Tongo (Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is the native language of Creoles and much of the younger population), Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese

Religions
Protestant 23.6% (includes Evangelical 11.2%, Moravian 11.2%, Reformed 0.7%, Lutheran 0.5%), Hindu 22.3%, Roman Catholic 21.6%, Muslim 13.8%, other Christian 3.2%, Winti 1.8%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%, other 1.7%, none 7.5%, unspecified 3.2% (2012 est.)

Population growth rate
1.07% (2024 est.)

Government

Government type
presidential republic

Capital
name: Paramaribo

Executive branch
chief of state: President Jennifer GEERLINGS-SIMONS (since 16 July 2025)
head of government: President Jennifer GEERLINGS-SIMONS (since 16 July 2025)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Jan Marten Willem SCHALKWIJK (since 19 April 2022)

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert J. FAUCHER (since 31 January 2023)

Economy

Economic overview
upper middle-income South American economy; new floating currency regime; key aluminum goods, gold, and hydrocarbon exporter; new IMF plan for economic recovery and fiscal sustainability; controversial hardwood industry

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$12.316 billion (2024 est.)
$11.976 billion (2023 est.)
$11.68 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$19,400 (2024 est.)
$19,000 (2023 est.)
$18,700 (2022 est.)

Exports
$2.793 billion (2024 est.)
$2.533 billion (2023 est.)
$2.6 billion (2022 est.)

Exports - partners
Switzerland 49%, UAE 28%, Guyana 5%, USA 4%, France 3% (2023)

Exports - commodities
gold, fish, refined petroleum, wood, tobacco (2023)

Imports
$2.571 billion (2024 est.)
$2.203 billion (2023 est.)
$2.342 billion (2022 est.)

Imports - partners
USA 22%, China 12%, Netherlands 11%, Trinidad & Tobago 9%, Guyana 8% (2023)

Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, ships, excavation machinery, trucks, tobacco (2023)

Human Development Index

The country's Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.722, ranking it 114th out of 193 countries tested. (more information)

World Happiness Report

The World Happiness Report ranked the country 46th out of 158 countries tested with a score of 6.269. (more information)