Suriname is a country located on the northeastern coast of South America. It is bordered by French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the north. The capital and largest city is Paramaribo.

Suriname gained its independence from the Netherlands in 1975 and is now a democratic republic. The country's population is ethnically diverse, with people of Indian, African, Javanese, Chinese, Dutch, and indigenous descent. The official language is Dutch, although many Surinamese speak Sranan Tongo, a Creole language, as their primary language.

Suriname has a tropical rainforest climate, with high temperatures and humidity throughout the year. The country's economy is heavily dependent on its natural resources, including bauxite, gold, oil, and agricultural products such as rice and bananas. The country has a small manufacturing sector, with food processing and textiles being the primary industries.

Suriname is known for its diverse culture and cuisine, influenced by its various ethnic groups. Popular dishes include roti, nasi goreng, and pom, a casserole made with fish or chicken, cassava, and coconut milk. The country is also home to a variety of wildlife, including jaguars, tapirs, and many species of birds.

Despite its natural resources and cultural richness, Suriname faces various economic and social challenges, including high levels of poverty and unemployment, political instability, and environmental degradation. However, the country has made progress in recent years towards sustainable development and improving its infrastructure and social services.

Telephone Code
597

Local Emergency Phone
Local numbers only

Vaccinations
An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations.

Climate
Tropical; moderated by trade winds

Currency (Code)
Surinamese dollars (SRD)

Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s)
127 V, 220 V / 60 Hz / plug types(s): A, B, C, F

Major Languages
Dutch, English (widely spoken), Sranang Tongo

Major Religions
Protestant 23.6% (includes Evangelical, Moravian, Reformed, Lutheran), Hindu 22.3%, Roman Catholic 21.6%, Muslim 13.8%, other Christian 3.2%, Winti 1.8%, Jehovah's Witness 1.2%

Potable Water
Opt for bottled water

International Driving Permit
Suggested

Road Driving Side
Left

Tourist Destinations
Presidential Palace; Galibi Nature Reserve; Central Suriname Nature Reserve; Commewijne River; Brownsberg Nature Park

Major Sports
Soccer, cricket, basketball, table tennis, volleyball

Cultural Practices
When invited to a household the guest is usually expected to partake in a meal.

Tipping Guidelines
Customers are expected to leave a 10% tip at restaurants, if a service charge has not already been added. Rounding up cab fare is appropriate.

Souvenirs
Woven baskets and wicker items, batik cloth, tribal woodcarvings, pottery, gold and silver jewelry, hand-rolled cigars, cotton hammocks, bamboo items

Traditional Cuisine
Pom — a casserole made with chicken pieces, chicken sausages, tomatoes, onions, celery, garlic, hot peppers, salt, pepper, sugar, nutmeg, orange and lemon juice, and pomtajer (a root vegetable)

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
639,759 (2023 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 and is lingua franca among others), Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese

Religions
Protestant 23.6% (includes Evangelical 11.2%, Moravian 11.2%, Reformed .7%, Lutheran .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
1.11% (2023 est.)

Government
Government type
presidential republic

Capital
name: Paramaribo

Economy
Economic overview
upper middle-income South American economy; natural resource rich; foreign investments in oil field development; key aluminum goods exporter; central bank sets currency value and is experiencing devaluation; controversial hardwood industry

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$9.052 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$14,800 (2021 est.)

Agricultural products
rice, sugar cane, bananas, oranges, vegetables, plantains, coconuts, poultry, cassava, eggs

Industries
gold mining, oil, lumber, food processing, fishing

Exports
$2.299 billion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners
Switzerland 39%, United Arab Emirates 31%, Belgium 10% (2019)

Exports - commodities
gold, lumber, refined petroleum, fish, cigarettes (2019)

Imports
$1.876 billion (2021 est.)

Imports - partners
United States 22%, Netherlands 14%, China 13%, Trinidad and Tobago 7%, Antigua and Barbuda 5% (2019)

Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, delivery trucks, excavation machinery, cars, construction vehicles (2019)