Country Profile: Suriname

Suriname, located in northern South America, is bordered by the North Atlantic Ocean and shares borders with French Guiana, Brazil, and Guyana. It has a diverse geography featuring tropical rainforests, rolling hills, and a coastal plain, while its population of approximately 653,605 is primarily concentrated in urban areas along the coastline. The economy is classified as upper middle-income, heavily reliant on the export of aluminum goods, gold, and hydrocarbons, and is undergoing reforms to enhance fiscal sustainability. Governance is established as a presidential republic, with a history marked by periods of military rule and democratic elections.

Geography

Suriname is the smallest independent country on the South American continent, characterized by its vast tropical rainforests and a relatively small population that is predominantly coastal. The country has a tropical climate, primarily rolling hills, and a narrow coastal plain interspersed with swamps.

Area: 163,820 sq km, slightly larger than the state of Georgia.
Elevation: Juliana Top is the highest point at 1,230 m, while the lowest point is at -2 m.
Natural Hazards: Prone to flooding.
Land Use: Approximately 91.7% of the land is covered by forests (2023).
Natural Resources: Includes timber, gold, and hydropower.

People and Society

Suriname's population is about 653,605, comprising a myriad of ethnic groups, with Hindustani and Maroon people forming significant portions. The country boasts a multilingual society, where Dutch is the official language, alongside Sranang Tongo and various ethnic dialects.

Urbanization: 66.4% of the population lives in urban areas (2023).
Median Age: Approximately 32.3 years (2025).
Life Expectancy: 72.7 years at birth (2024).
Religions: Predominantly Protestant, Hindu, and Roman Catholic.
Population Growth Rate: 1.04% (2025).

Economy

Suriname's economy is driven by exports of gold, fish, and refined petroleum, while it is currently transitioning through economic reforms aimed at sustainability. The country faces challenges such as high inflation and relies on a floating currency regime.

GDP (PPP): $12.316 billion (2024 est.).
Unemployment Rate: 7.4% (2024 est.).
GDP per Capita: $19,400 (2024 est.).
Inflation Rate: 16.2% (2024 est.).
Key Industries: Gold mining, oil extraction, and food processing.

Government

Suriname operates as a presidential republic with a rich political history influenced by its colonial past and transition from military to democratic rule. The country has established a legal framework and administrative divisions comprising ten districts.

Executive: President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons has been in office since July 2025.
Legislature: The National Assembly consists of 51 seats and employs a proportional representation electoral system.
Independence: Achieved from the Netherlands on 25 November 1975.
Suffrage: Universal at 18 years of age.
Legal System: Based on civil law influenced by Dutch civil law.

Military and Security

The Suriname National Army, alongside the police force, maintains internal security and sovereignty. The military is involved in various capacities, including support for domestic security operations and emergency assistance.

Strength: Approximately 2,000 National Army personnel (2025).
Military Expenditure: 1.2% of GDP (2019).
Service Age: Voluntary military service for individuals aged 18-28 (2025).
Military Equipment: Limited inventory of older or secondhand armaments.

Energy

Suriname's energy sector is characterized by a mix of generation sources, with a focus on hydroelectric power and fossil fuels. The country has achieved significant electricity access and consumption levels.

Electrification Rate: 99% of the population has access to electricity (2022).
Installed Capacity: 537,000 kW (2023).
Electricity Consumption: 1.896 billion kWh (2023).
Petroleum Production: 14,000 bbl/day (2023).

Environment

Suriname is rich in biodiversity but faces environmental challenges such as deforestation and pollution from mining activities. The country is a party to several international environmental agreements aimed at conservation.

Forest Coverage: 91.7% of land is forested (2023).
Carbon Emissions: Total emissions of 2.521 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023).
Municipal Solid Waste: 16.9% of waste was recycled (2022).

Transportation

Suriname possesses a developing transportation network including various airports and maritime facilities that support both domestic and international connectivity.

Airports: 55 airports (2025).
Merchant Marine: 13 vessels (2023).
Roads: The majority of the population relies on road transport for internal travel.

Communications

The communications infrastructure in Suriname includes a growing number of mobile and internet users, reflecting increasing connectivity among the population.

Internet Users: 78% of the population uses the internet (2023).
Mobile Subscriptions: 902,000 mobile cellular subscriptions (2024).
Telephones: 129,000 fixed-line subscriptions (2023).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	653,605	Estimated for 2025
Area	163,820 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$12.316 billion	Estimated for 2024
Energy Consumption per Capita	60.896 million Btu/person	Estimated for 2023
Birth Rate	14.63 births/1,000 population	Estimated for 2025
Unemployment Rate	7.4%	Estimated for 2024
Life Expectancy	72.7 years	Estimated for 2024
Electricity Access	99%	Estimated for 2022
Inflation Rate	16.2%	Estimated for 2024
Forest Coverage	91.7%	Estimated for 2023