Suriname (2004)

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Suriname 2004 year


Administrative divisions	10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica
Age structure	0-14 years: 30.2% (male 67,588; female 64,223) 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.)
Agriculture - products	paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts; beef, chickens; forest products; shrimp
Airports	46 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways	total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways	total: 41 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 35 (2004 est.)
Area	total: 163,270 sq km land: 161,470 sq km water: 1,800 sq km
Area - comparative	slightly larger than Georgia
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.
Birth rate	18.87 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget	revenues: $393 million expenditures: $403 million, including capital expenditures of $34 million (1997 est.)
Capital	Paramaribo
Climate	tropical; moderated by trade winds
Coastline	386 km
Constitution	ratified 30 September 1987
Country name	conventional long form: Republic of Suriname conventional short form: Suriname local long form: Republiek Suriname local short form: Suriname former: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana
Currency	Surinamese guilder (SRG)
Death rate	6.99 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external	$321 million (2002 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US	chief of mission: Ambassador Marsha E. BARNES embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo mailing address: Department of State, 3390 Paramaribo Place, Washington, DC, 20521-3390 telephone: [597] 472900 FAX: [597] 420800
Diplomatic representation in the US	chief of mission: Ambassador Henry Lothar ILLES chancery: Suite 460, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 244-7488 FAX: [1] (202) 244-5878 consulate(s) general: Miami
Disputes - international	area claimed by French Guiana between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa); Suriname claims a triangle of land between the New and Kutari/Koetari Rivers in a historic dispute over the headwaters of the Courantyne; Guyana seeks UNCLOS arbitration to resolve the long-standing dispute with Suriname over the axis of the territorial sea boundary in potentially oil-rich waters
Economic aid - recipient	Netherlands provided $37 million for project and program assistance, European Development Fund $4 million, Belgium $2 million (1998)
Economy - overview	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.
Electricity - consumption	1.822 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports	0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports	0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production	1.959 billion kWh (2001)
Elevation extremes	lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m highest point: Juliana Top 1,230 m
Environment - current issues	deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of inland waterways by small-scale mining activities
Environment - international agreements	party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups	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%
Exchange rates	Surinamese guilders per US dollar - NA (2003), 2,346.75 (2002), 2,178.5 (2001), 1,322.47 (2000), 859.437 (1999) 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
Executive branch	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 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) note: widespread demonstrations during the summer of 1999 led to the call for elections a year early 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
Exports	0 kWh (2001)
Exports	$495 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports	NA (2001)
Exports - commodities	alumina, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas
Exports - partners	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)
Fiscal year	calendar year
Flag description	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
GDP	purchasing power parity - $1.752 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector	agriculture: 13% industry: 22% services: 65% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita	purchasing power parity - $4,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate	5% (2003 est.)
Geographic coordinates	4 00 N, 56 00 W
Geography - note	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
Highways	total: 4,492 km paved: 1,168 km unpaved: 3,324 km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share	lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA
Illicit drugs	growing transshipment point for South American drugs destined for Europe and Brazil; transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing
Imports	0 kWh (2001)
Imports	$604 million f.o.b. (2002)
Imports	NA (2001)
Imports - commodities	capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods
Imports - partners	US 31.5%, Netherlands 18.2%, Trinidad and Tobago 12.5%, China 6.8%, Japan 6.4% (2003)
Independence	25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)
Industrial production growth rate	6.5% (1994 est.)
Industries	bauxite and gold mining, alumina production, oil, lumbering, food processing, fishing
Infant mortality rate	total: 24.15 deaths/1,000 live births male: 28.24 deaths/1,000 live births female: 19.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	17% (2002 est.)
International organization participation	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
Irrigated land	490 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch	Court of Justice (justices are nominated for life)
Labor force	100,000
Labor force - by occupation	agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA
Land boundaries	total: 1,707 km border countries: Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km
Land use	arable land: 0.37% permanent crops: 0.06% other: 99.57% (2001)
Languages	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
Legal system	based on Dutch legal system incorporating French penal theory
Legislative branch	unicameral National Assembly or Nationale Assemblee (51 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 5 May 2000 (next to be held NA May 2005) 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
Life expectancy at birth	total population: 69.1 years male: 66.77 years female: 71.55 years (2004 est.)
Literacy	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93% male: 95% female: 91% (1995 est.)
Location	Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana
Map references	South America
Maritime claims	territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Merchant marine	total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,421 GRT/2,990 DWT by type: cargo 1, container 1 (2004 est.)
Military branches	National Army (includes small Navy and Air Force elements)
Military expenditures - dollar figure	$7.5 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP	0.7% (2003)
Military manpower - availability	males age 15-49: 124,260 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service	males age 15-49: 72,576 (2004 est.)
National holiday	Independence Day, 25 November (1975)
Nationality	noun: Surinamer(s) adjective: Surinamese
Natural hazards	NA
Natural resources	timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore
Net migration rate	-8.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Pipelines	oil 51 km (2004)
Political parties and leaders	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]
Political pressure groups and leaders	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]
Population	436,935 (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line	70% (2002 est.)
Population growth rate	0.31% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors	Albina, Moengo, New Nickerie, Paramaribo, Paranam, Wageningen
Radio broadcast stations	AM 4, FM 13, shortwave 1 (1998)
Religions	Hindu 27.4%, Muslim 19.6%, Roman Catholic 22.8%, Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian), indigenous beliefs 5%
Sex ratio	at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 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.)
Suffrage	18 years of age; universal
Telephone system	general assessment: international facilities are good domestic: microwave radio relay network international: country code - 597; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use	79,800 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular	168,100 (2003)
Television broadcast stations	3 (plus seven repeaters) (2000)
Terrain	mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps
Total fertility rate	2.37 children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate	17% (2000)
Waterways	1,200 km (most navigable by ships with drafts up to 7 m) (2003)

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