Suriname
| Capital: | Paramaribo |
| Area size: | 156000 sq. km About half the size of Italy |
| Time zone: | GMT -3 |
| Currency: | Surinamese dollar |
| Area code: | (+) 597 |
| Driving: | Left |
| Climate description: | Tropical, with heavy rainfall year-round. The land was once below sea level, but with the use of drainage systems and dykes it has since been restored to a coastal plain used for growing crops including rice and sugar. |
People
Standard of living
Economy & aid
Health
Disasters, conflict & migration
Language
Dutch is the official language, but English is often used in business settings. Hindi, Javanese and a form of Creole based on African and European languages are also spoken.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide
Population
Future population estimates
0.4 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2006)
Ethnic groups
Surinam Creole 30 percent, Indo-Pakistani 33 percent, Javanese 16 percent, "Bush People" 10 percent. There is also an Amerindian minority.
Source: NI World Guide
Religion
Christian 44 percent (22 percent Catholic, 18 percent Protestant), Muslim 19 percent, Hindu 26 percent
Source: NI World Guide
Percentage urban population
Year women granted right to vote
1948
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.
Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
No data available (2006)
Percentage of population under 15
Dutch is the official language, but English is often used in business settings. Hindi, Javanese and a form of Creole based on African and European languages are also spoken.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide
Population
| 2007 | 0.5 million | U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006) |
| 2006 | 0.5 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2005 | 0.5 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2004 | 0.4 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2003 | 0.4 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2002 | 0.4 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2001 | 0.4 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
| 2000 | 0.4 million | U.N. DESA (2006) |
Future population estimates
0.4 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2006)
Ethnic groups
Surinam Creole 30 percent, Indo-Pakistani 33 percent, Javanese 16 percent, "Bush People" 10 percent. There is also an Amerindian minority.
Source: NI World Guide
Religion
Christian 44 percent (22 percent Catholic, 18 percent Protestant), Muslim 19 percent, Hindu 26 percent
Source: NI World Guide
Percentage urban population
| 2007 | 74.6 percent | U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005 |
| 2006 | 74.2 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2005 | 73.9 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2004 | 73.5 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2003 | 73.2 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2002 | 72.8 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2001 | 72.4 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
| 2000 | 72.1 percent | U.N. DESA (2005) |
Year women granted right to vote
1948
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.
Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
No data available (2006)
Percentage of population under 15
| 2005 | 29.8 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2004 | 30.4 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 30.9 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 30.4 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 31.5 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 30.5 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Average life expectancy
Life expectancy - male
Life expectancy - female
Infant mortality
Child mortality - deaths before the age of five
Births attended by skilled personnel
Maternal mortality
Human development index (HDI rank)
Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)
Percentage of undernourished population
Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.
Population with access to improved water
Population with access to improved sanitation
Literacy - average
Literacy - male
Literacy - female
Landlines telephones
Cellular telephone subscribers
Internet users
Transparency International corruption ranking (1=least corrupt, 179=most corrupt)
Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
No (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
No (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
| 2005 | 69.6 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2004 | 69.3 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 69.1 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 71.0 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 70.8 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 70.6 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Life expectancy - male
| 2005 | 66.4 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2004 | 66.1 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 65.9 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 68.4 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 68.2 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 68.0 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Life expectancy - female
| 2005 | 73.0 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2004 | 72.7 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 72.6 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 73.6 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 73.4 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 73.2 years | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Infant mortality
| 2006 | 29 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008 |
| 2005 | 30 per 1,000 live births | U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007 |
| 2004 | 30 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006 |
| 2003 | 30 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 31 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | 26 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 2000 | 27 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Child mortality - deaths before the age of five
| 2006 | 39 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008 |
| 2005 | 39 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007 |
| 2004 | 39 per 1,000 live births | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006 |
| 2000 | 33 per 1,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Births attended by skilled personnel
| 1997-2005 | 85 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 1996-2004 | 85 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 1995-2003 | 85 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 1995-2002 | 85 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 1995-2001 | 85 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
| 1995-2000 | 84 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Maternal mortality
| 2005 | 72 per 100,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2000 | 110 per 100,000 live births | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
Human development index (HDI rank)
Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)
| 2000-2006 | 13 percent | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008 |
| 1996-2005 | 13 percent | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007 |
| 1996-2004 | 13 percent | UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006 |
| 1995-2003 | 13 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 1995-2002 | 13 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 1995-2001 | No data available percent | |
| 1995-2000 | 11 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2002 |
Percentage of undernourished population
| 2002-2004 average | 8 percent | U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006 |
| 2001-2003average | 10 percent | FAO 2006 |
Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.
Population with access to improved water
| 2004 | 92 percent | UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006 |
| 2002 | 92 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2000 | 82 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
Population with access to improved sanitation
| 2004 | 94 percent | UNICEF and WHO 2006 |
| 2002 | 93 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
Literacy - average
| 2004 | 89.6 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 88.0 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | 94.0 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2001 | No data available percent | |
| 2000 | No data available percent |
Literacy - male
| 2004 | 92.0 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 92.3 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | No data available percent | |
| 2001 | No data available percent | |
| 2000 | No data available percent |
Literacy - female
| 2004 | 87.2 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2003 | 84.1 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2002 | No data available percent | |
| 2001 | No data available percent | |
| 2000 | No data available percent |
Landlines telephones
| 2006 | 180 per 1,000 people | International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 2007 |
| 2005 | 180 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2004 | 183 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2003 | 180 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2002 | 179 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2001 | 177 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2000 | 174 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
Cellular telephone subscribers
| 2006 | 708 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2005 | 518 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2004 | 477 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2003 | 380 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2002 | 246 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2001 | 199 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2000 | 95 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
Internet users
| 2006 | 71 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2005 | 71 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2004 | 67 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2003 | 52 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2002 | 45 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2001 | 33 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
| 2000 | 27 per 1,000 people | ITU 2007 |
Transparency International corruption ranking (1=least corrupt, 179=most corrupt)
| 2007 | 72 (joint) | Transparency International 2007 |
| 2006 | 90 (joint) | Transparency International |
| 2005 | 78 (joint) | Transparency International |
| 2004 | 49 (joint) | Transparency International |
| 2003 | Not ranked | |
| 2002 | Not ranked | |
| 2001 | Not ranked | |
| 2000 | Not ranked |
Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
No (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
No (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report
International humanitarian aid flows
Access the Financial Tracking Service, a global real-time database which records all reported humanitarian aid - including that for NGOs, the Red Cross/Crescent Movement, bilateral aid, in-kind aid and private donations - searchable by country.
Source: Financial Tracking Service, ReliefWeb
Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
No data available percent
GNI per capita, Atlas method
The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country’s exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.
GDP
Annual GDP growth
Annual inflation
Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
No data available
Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
No data available
No data available percent
GNI per capita, Atlas method
| 2006 | 4210 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2005 | 3680 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2004 | 3080 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2003 | 2320 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2002 | 2000 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2001 | 1750 current US$ | |
| 2000 | 2060 current US$ | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country’s exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.
GDP
| 2006 | 2.1 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2005 | 1.8 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2004 | 1.5 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2003 | 1.3 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2002 | 1.1 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2001 | 0.8 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
| 2000 | 0.9 current US$ billions | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008 |
Annual GDP growth
| 2005 | 5.1 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
| 2004 | 7.8 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
| 2003 | 5.3 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
| 2002 | 3 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
| 2001 | 4.5 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
| 2000 | -0.1 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
Annual inflation
| 2005 | 11.2 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
| 2004 | 9.7 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
| 2003 | 12.7 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
| 2002 | 30.3 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
| 2001 | 35.2 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
| 2000 | 54.8 percent | World Bank Data Profile Tables 2007 |
Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
No data available
Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
No data available
Physicians
Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)
Malaria
Risk from P.falciparum is high throughout the year in the three southern districts of the country. In Parimaribo city and the other seven coastal districts the risk is low. Chloroquine, Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and mefloquine resistant P.falciparum reported.
Source: WHO
TB cases
| 2000-2004 | 45 per 100,000 people | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 1990-2004 | 45 per 100,000 people | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 1990-2003 | 50 per 100,000 people | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 1990-2002 | 45 per 100,000 people | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)
| 2005 | 1.9 percent | U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2006 |
| 2003 | 1.7 percent | UNAIDS 2006 |
Malaria
Risk from P.falciparum is high throughout the year in the three southern districts of the country. In Parimaribo city and the other seven coastal districts the risk is low. Chloroquine, Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and mefloquine resistant P.falciparum reported.
Source: WHO
TB cases
| 2006 | 64 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
| 2005 | 65 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
| 2004 | 67 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
| 2003 | 69 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
| 2002 | 71 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
| 2001 | 73 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
| 2000 | 75 per 100,000 people | WHO 2008 |
Chronology of natural disasters
Access EM-DAT, a database of natural disasters from 1900 to the present - death tolls and numbers of affected people - searchable by country.
Source: Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters, Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium
Number of refugees originating here
Number of refugees residing here
Number of internally displaced people\Estimate
Landmine casualties per year
Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1997 )
Source: Landmine Monitor Report
Percentage of GDP spent on military
No data available percent
Percentage of GDP spent on education
No data available percent
Percentage of GDP spent on health
| 2006 | 66 | Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) |
| 2005 | 29 | UNHCR |
| 2004 | 51 | UNHCR |
| 2003 | No data available | |
| 2002 | No data available | |
| 2001 | No data available | |
| 2000 | No data available |
Number of refugees residing here
| 2006 | No data available | |
| 2005 | No data available | |
| 2004 | No data available | |
| 2003 | 3 | UNHCR |
| 2002 | No data available | |
| 2001 | No data available | |
| 2000 | No data available |
Number of internally displaced people\Estimate
| No data available | |||
Landmine casualties per year
| 2004 | 0 | Landmine Monitor Report 2005 |
| 2003 | 0 | Landmine Monitor Report 2004 |
Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1997 )
Source: Landmine Monitor Report
Percentage of GDP spent on military
No data available percent
Percentage of GDP spent on education
No data available percent
Percentage of GDP spent on health
| 2004 | 3.6 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008 |
| 2003-2004 | 3.6 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2006 |
| 2002 | 5.2 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2005 |
| 2001 | 5.7 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2004 |
| 2000 | 5.5 percent | UNDP - Human Development Report 2003 |
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