Capital of Suriname:
ParamariboArea of Suriname: 163,820 km² (63,251 mi²) (
91th)
Population of Suriname: 634,431 (
171th) - (2024 est.)
Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana.
Languages of Suriname: 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.
Religions of Suriname: Christian 48.4% (
Protestant 26.75,
Roman Catholic 21.65%),
Hinduism 22.3% (
Sanātanī 17.97%,
Arya Samaj 3.08%,
Other Hindu1.23%),
Muslim 13.9% (
Sunni 3.91%,
Ahmadiyya 2.61%,
Other Muslim 7.34%),
Winti 1.8%,
Kejawèn 0.8%,
Judaism 0.03%,
no religion 7.52%, Not stated 2.04%, Don't know 1.11%,
Others 0.85% (2012 est.)
Ethnic groups in Suriname: 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.)
Currency:
Surinamese dollar (
SRD)
Calling code: (
+597)
Organizations: United Nations, Caribbean Community
Border countries (3):
Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km,
Guyana 600 km
Coastline: 386 km (240 mi).
Administrative divisions: 10 districts (distrikten, sing. – district):
Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica.
Natural resources: Timber, hydropower, fish, forests, hydroelectric potential, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite and gold. Small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum and iron ore. It also has sizeable oil.