Suriname

Presidential RepublicPop654KGDP (PPP)$12.3BCI58Beta CP0.0→Beta

Suriname

⌘K

Overview

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. With the abolition of African slavery in 1863, workers were brought in from India and Java. The Netherlands granted the colony independence in 1975. Five years later, the civilian government was replaced by a military regime that soon declared Suriname a socialist republic. It continued to exert control through a succession of nominally civilian administrations until 1987, when international pressure finally forced a democratic election. In 1990, the military overthrew the civilian leadership, but a democratically elected government -- a four-party coalition -- returned to power in 1991. The coalition expanded to eight parties in 2005 and ruled until 2010, when voters returned former military leader Desire BOUTERSE and his opposition coalition to power. President BOUTERSE ran unopposed in 2015 and was reelected. Opposition parties campaigned hard against BOUTERSE in the run-up to the 2020 elections, and a multi-party coalition led by Chandrikapersad SANTOKHI’s VHP and Ronnie Brunswijk’s ABOP was installed.

Geography

Area

Land: 156,000 sq km
Water: 7,820 sq km
Total: 163,820 sq km

Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds
Terrain: mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps

Land Use

Other: 7.9% (2023 est.)
Forest: 91.7% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.1% (2023 est.)

Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana
Coastline: 386 km

Elevation

Lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m
Highest point: Juliana Top 1,230 m
Mean elevation: 246 m

Irrigated land: 600 sq km (2020)
Map references: South America

Land Boundaries

Total: 1,907 km
Border countries: Brazil 515 km; French Guiana 556 km; Guyana 836 km

Maritime Claims

Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards: flooding
Geography note: smallest independent country on the South American continent; mostly tropical rainforest; great diversity of flora and fauna; relatively small population, mostly along the coast
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore
Area comparative: slightly larger than Georgia
Geographic coordinates: 4 00 N, 56 00 W
Population distribution: population is concentrated along the northern coastal strip; the remainder of the country is sparsely populated

Major Watersheds (Area Sq Km)

Atlantic ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km)

People & Society

Languages

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
Major language sample(s): Het Wereld Feitenboek, een omnisbare bron van informatie. (Dutch)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. (English)

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.)

Sex Ratio

At birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0 14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15 64 years: 1 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female

Birth rate: 14.63 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 6.74 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median Age

Male: 31 years
Total: 32.3 years (2025 est.)
Female: 32.9 years

Population

Male: 323,747
Total: 653,605 (2025 est.)
Female: 329,858

Nationality

Noun: Surinamer(s)
Adjective: Surinamese

Urbanization

Urban population: 66.4% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.88% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Age Structure

0 14 years: 22.5% (male 73,864/female 71,573)
15 64 years: 70% (male 226,417/female 226,235)
65 years and over: 7.5% (2024 est.) (male 20,071/female 28,598)

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.)

Child Marriage

Men married BY age 18: 19.6% (2018)
Women married BY age 15: 8.8% (2018)
Women married BY age 18: 36% (2018)

Dependency Ratios

Total dependency ratio: 43 (2025 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 31.8 (2025 est.)
Potential support ratio: 8.9 (2025 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 11.2 (2025 est.)

Physician density: 1.36 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Health Expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 5.7% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 13.1% of national budget (2022 est.)

Net migration rate: 2.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density: 2.9 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.87 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved: rural: rural: 96.6% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 98% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 98.7% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 3.4% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 2% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 1.3% of population (2022 est.)

Education Expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 2.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 8.6% national budget (2024 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Male: 37.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Total: 29.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Female: 21 deaths/1,000 live births

Population growth rate: 1.04% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.9 (2025 est.)
Population distribution: population is concentrated along the northern coastal strip; the remainder of the country is sparsely populated

Life Expectancy at Birth

Male: 69 years
Female: 76.7 years
Total population: 72.7 years (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 84 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved: rural: rural: 91.2% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 96.1% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 98.5% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 8.8% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 3.9% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 1.5% of population (2022 est.)

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

Beer: 3.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 0.14 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 6.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits: 2.87 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols: 0.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Major urban areas population: 239,000 PARAMARIBO (capital) (2018)
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 26.4% (2016)
Currently married women (ages 15 49): 52.2% (2018 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 6.7% (2018 est.)

School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)

Male: 10 years (2021 est.)
Total: 11 years (2021 est.)
Female: 11 years (2021 est.)

Government

Civica · structure

How power is organised

ExecutiveLegislative

Flag: description: five horizontal bands of green (top, double-width), white, red (quadruple-width), white, and green (double-width); a five-pointed yellow star is centered on the red band

meaning: red stands for progress and love, green for hope and fertility, and white for peace, justice, and freedom; the star represents the unity of ethnic groups

Capital

Name: Paramaribo
Etymology: the name comes from the Guaraní words para (water or river) and maribo (inhabitants)
Time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Geographic coordinates: 5 50 N, 55 10 W

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

Citizenship BY birth: no
Citizenship BY descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Suriname
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Constitution

History: previous 1975; latest ratified 30 September 1987, effective 30 October 1987
Amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the total membership

Country Name

Former: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana
Etymology: name may derive from the Surinen people who inhabited the area at the time of European contact
Local long form: Republiek Suriname
Local short form: Suriname
Conventional long form: Republic of Suriname
Conventional short form: Suriname

Independence: 25 November 1975 (from the Netherlands)
Legal system: civil law system influenced by Dutch civil law
Government type: presidential republic

Judicial Branch

Note: note: appeals beyond the High Court are referred to the Caribbean Court of Justice; human rights violations can be appealed to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights with judgments issued by the Inter-American Court on Human Rights
Highest court(s): High Court of Justice of Suriname (consists of the court president, vice president, and 4 judges)
Subordinate courts: cantonal courts
Judge selection and term of office: court judges appointed by the national president in consultation with the National Assembly, the State Advisory Council, and the Order of Private Attorneys; judges serve for life

Executive Branch

Note: note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
Cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
Chief of state: President Jennifer GEERLINGS-SIMONS (since 16 July 2025)
Election results: 2025: Jennifer GEERLINGS-SIMONS elected president unopposed; National Assembly vote - NA

2020: Chandrikapersad "Chan" SANTOKHI elected president unopposed; National Assembly vote - NA

2015: Desire Delano BOUTERSE reelected president unopposed; National Assembly vote - NA
Head of government: President Jennifer GEERLINGS-SIMONS (since 16 July 2025)
Most recent election date: 6 July 2025
Election/appointment process: president and vice president indirectly elected by the National Assembly; president and vice president serve a 5-year term (no term limits)
Expected date of next election: 2030

National holiday: Independence Day, 25 November (1975)
National color(s): green, white, red, yellow

National Heritage

Total world heritage sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)
Selected world heritage site locales: Central Suriname Nature Reserve (n); Historic Inner City of Paramaribo (c); Jodensavanne Archaeological Site: Jodensavanne Settlement and Cassipora Creek Cemetery (c)

Political parties: Brotherhood and Unity in Politics or BEP
Democratic Alternative '91 or DA91
General Liberation and Development Party or ABOP
National Democratic Party or NDP
National Party of Suriname or NPS
Party for Democracy and Development in Unity or DOE
Party for National Unity and Solidarity or KTPI
People's Alliance (Pertjajah Luhur) or PL
Progressive Workers' and Farmers' Union or PALU
Progressive Reform Party or VHP
Reform and Renewal Movement or HVB
Surinamese Labor Party or SPA

Legislative Branch

Term in office: 5 years
Number of seats: 51 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: proportional representation
Legislature name: National Assembly (Nationale Assemblee)
Scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative structure: unicameral
Most recent election date: 5/25/2025
Expected date of next election: May 2030
Percentage of women in chamber: 31.4%
Parties elected and seats per party: National Democratic Party (NDP) (18); Progressive Reform Party (VHP) (17); National Party of Suriname (NPS) (6); General Liberation and Development Party (ABOP) (6); Other (4)

National Anthem(s)

Title: "God zij met ons Suriname!" (God Be With Our Suriname)
History: adopted 1959; originally adapted from a Sunday-school song written in 1893; contains lyrics in both Dutch and Sranang Tongo
Lyrics/music: Cornelis Atses HOEKSTRA and Henry DE ZIEL/Johannes Corstianus DE PUY

National symbol(s): royal palm, faya lobi (flower)
Administrative divisions: 10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Fax: [1] (202) 629-4769
Chancery: 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: [1] (202) 629-4302
Chief of mission: Ambassador Jan Marten Willem SCHALKWIJK (since 19 April 2022)
Consulate(s) general: Miami
Email address and website: amb.vs@gov.sr

https://surinameembassy.org/index.html

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Fax: [597] 551-524
Embassy: 165 Kristalstraat, Paramaribo
Telephone: [597] 556-700
Mailing address: 3390 Paramaribo Place, Washington DC  20521-3390
Chief of mission: Ambassador Robert J. FAUCHER (since 31 January 2023)
Email address and website: caparamar@state.gov

https://sr.usembassy.gov/

International organisations: ACP, ACS, AOSIS, Caricom, CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Legislature

SURINAME · LEGISLATURE

National Assembly

51 seats · hover a seat for the party

Total seats

Majority line

Largest party

National Democratic Party (NDP)

Parties

All political parties7 parties · 51 seats · click to dim in hemicycle

Leaders

Current

JG
Jennifer Geerlings-Simons
- Head of StateSince 2025
- Head of GovernmentSince 2025

Economy

Budget

Revenues: $863 million (2019 est.)
Expenditures: $1.648 billion (2019 est.)

Exports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $2.6 billion (2022 est.)

Note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports 2022: $2.6 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023: $2.533 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024: $2.793 billion (2024 est.)

Imports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $2.342 billion (2022 est.)

Note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports 2022: $2.342 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023: $2.203 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024: $2.571 billion (2024 est.)

Industries: gold mining, oil, lumber, food processing, fishing
Labor force: 255,500 (2024 est.)

Public Debt

Civica canonical (reconciled): 75.8% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2016: 75.8% of GDP (2016 est.)

Remittances

Note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2022: 3.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023: 4.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024: 3.4% of GDP (2024 est.)

Exchange Rates

Currency: Surinamese dollars (SRD) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020: 9.31 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 18.239 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 24.709 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 36.776 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024: 33.181 (2024 est.)

Debt External

Note: note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
Debt external 2023: $2.645 billion (2023 est.)

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

Unemployment Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 7.8%

Note: note: % of labor force seeking employment
Unemployment rate 2022: 8.2% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 7.7% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024: 7.4% (2024 est.)

Exports partners: Switzerland 49%, UAE 28%, Guyana 5%, USA 4%, France 3% (2023)
Imports partners: USA 22%, China 12%, Netherlands 11%, Trinidad & Tobago 9%, Guyana 8% (2023)

Real GDP Per Capita

Civica canonical (reconciled): $21,801

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2022: $18,700 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $19,000 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024: $19,400 (2024 est.)

Real GDP Growth Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 1.7%

Note: note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 2.4% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 2.5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024: 2.8% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products: rice, sugarcane, oranges, vegetables, chicken, cassava, plantains, pineapples, eggs, citrus fruits (2023)
Exports commodities: gold, fish, refined petroleum, wood, tobacco (2023)
Imports commodities: refined petroleum, ships, excavation machinery, trucks, tobacco (2023)

Current Account Balance

Civica canonical (reconciled): $9.3M

Note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Current account balance 2022: $76.321 million (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023: $148.118 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024: $9.306 million (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate): $4.714 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Civica canonical (reconciled): 16.2%

Note: note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 52.4% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 51.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 16.2% (2024 est.)

Industrial production growth rate: 2.1% (2023 est.)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Civica canonical (reconciled): $12.316 billion (2024 est.)

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $11.68 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $11.976 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $12.316 billion (2024 est.)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Male: 16.9% (2024 est.)
Note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 24.2% (2024 est.)
Female: 35.9% (2024 est.)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

Note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $1.195 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $1.346 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $1.632 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Industry: 39.9% (2023 est.)
Services: 48.3% (2023 est.)
Agriculture: 7.5% (2023 est.)

Note: note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Lowest 10%: 2.2% (2022 est.)
Highest 10%: 30.1% (2022 est.)

Gini Index Coefficient Distribution of Family Income

Note: note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Gini index coefficient distribution of family income 2022: 39.2 (2022 est.)

Energy

Coal

Imports: 2 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

Total petroleum production: 14,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 89 million barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 17,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Electricity

Consumption: 1.896 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 537,000 kW (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 245.206 million kWh (2023 est.)

Natural Gas

Production: 7.173 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 6.967 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification rural areas: 98%
Electrification urban areas: 100%
Electrification total population: 99% (2022 est.)

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 60.896 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Electricity Generation Sources

Solar: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Fossil fuels: 57.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Hydroelectricity: 42% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Biomass and waste: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Communications

Internet Users

Percent of population: 78% (2023 est.)

Broadcast media: 2 state-owned TV stations; 1 state-owned radio station; multiple private radio and TV stations (2019)
Internet country code: .sr

Telephones Fixed Lines

Total subscriptions: 129,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20 (2023 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Total subscriptions: 902,000 (2024 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 142 (2024 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Total: 125,000 (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20 (2022 est.)

Transport

Ports

Large: 0
Small: 1
Medium: 0
Key ports: Moengo, Nieuw Nickerie, Paramaribo, Paranam
Very small: 3
Total ports: 4 (2024)
Ports with oil terminals: 3

Airports: 55 (2025)
Heliports: 1 (2025)

Merchant Marine

Total: 13 (2023)
BY type: general cargo 5, oil tanker 3, other 5

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: PZ

Environment

Climate: tropical; moderated by trade winds

Land Use

Other: 7.9% (2023 est.)
Forest: 91.7% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.1% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 66.4% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.88% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and Recycling

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 78,600 tons (2024 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 16.9% (2022 est.)

Environmental issues: deforestation; pollution of inland waterways from small-scale mining activities

Total Water Withdrawal

Municipal: 49.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Industrial: 135.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Agricultural: 431.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Total emissions: 2.521 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 14,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 2.507 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions: 12.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 99 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

International Environmental Agreements

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
Signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Military & Security

Military note: the National Leger is responsible for defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Suriname against foreign aggression; other special tasks include border control and supporting domestic security as required; the military police, for example, have direct responsibility for immigration control at the country’s ports of entry, and the military assists the police in combating crime, particularly narco-trafficking, including joint military and police patrols, as well as joint special security teams; in addition, the military provides aid and assistance during times of natural emergencies and participates in socio-economic development projects (2025)

Military Expenditures

Civica canonical (reconciled): 1.2% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military expenditures 2015: 1.4% of GDP (2015 est.)
Military expenditures 2016: 1.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
Military expenditures 2017: 1.1% of GDP (2017 est.)
Military expenditures 2018: 1.1% of GDP (2018 est.)
Military expenditures 2019: 1.2% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military and security forces: Suriname National Army (Nationaal Leger or NL); Army (Landmacht), Navy (Marine); Air Force (Luchtmacht), Military Police (Korps Militaire Politie)

Ministry of Justice and Police: Suriname Police Force (Korps Politie Suriname or KPS) (2026)
Military service age and obligation: 18-28 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Suriname Army has a limited inventory of older or secondhand armaments originating from such suppliers as Brazil, France, the Netherlands, and India (2025)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 2,000 National Army (2025)

Transnational Issues

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Refugees: 3,241 (2024 est.)

Scores & Rankings

ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of

Civica Index58.0 / 100as of 2024-Q470 / 1902024-Q4

V-Dem Liberal Democracy0.64as of 2024-Q439 / 1702024-Q4

Freedom House StatusPartly Free (83/100)as of 2024-Q4—2024-Q4

Press Freedom (RSF)Partly free (50/100)as of 2024—2024

Cite this page

Cite this pageAPA · BibTeX · Chicago · JSON

Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Suriname — vintage 2026-Q1: Suriname factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/suriname

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Sources: FAO FAOSTAT, ILO ILOSTAT, IMF (WEO), UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, V-Dem, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata

Suriname

Area

Land Use

Elevation

Land Boundaries

Maritime Claims

Major Watersheds (Area Sq Km)

Languages

Sex Ratio

Median Age

Population

Nationality

Urbanization

Age Structure

Child Marriage

Dependency Ratios

Health Expenditure

Drinking Water Source

Education Expenditure

Infant Mortality Rate

Life Expectancy at Birth

Sanitation Facility Access

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)

How power is organised

Capital

Citizenship

Constitution

Country Name

Judicial Branch

Executive Branch

National Heritage

Legislative Branch

National Anthem(s)

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Diplomatic Representation from the US

National Assembly

Current

Jennifer Geerlings-Simons

Budget

Exports

Imports

Public Debt

Remittances

Exchange Rates

Debt External

Unemployment Rate

Real GDP Per Capita

Real GDP Growth Rate

Current Account Balance

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Household Income or Consumption BY Percentage Share

Gini Index Coefficient Distribution of Family Income

Coal

Petroleum

Electricity

Natural Gas

Electricity Access

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Electricity Generation Sources

Internet Users

Telephones Fixed Lines

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Ports

Merchant Marine

Land Use

Urbanization

Waste and Recycling

Total Water Withdrawal

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

International Environmental Agreements

Military Expenditures

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Cite this page