Suriname

Suriname, officially the Republic of Suriname, is a small country in northern South America, also considered part of the Caribbean and the West Indies. It is the smallest country in South America by both population and territory, with around 612,985 inhabitants in 2021 living in an area of approximately 165,940 square kilometers (64,070 square miles). The capital and largest city is Paramaribo, home to roughly half the population.

The country is covered by rainforest, with over 90% of its land still forested, the second-highest proportion of forest cover in the world. Suriname is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north, French Guiana to the east, Brazil to the south, and Guyana to the west.

Suriname has a rich history. It was inhabited by various Indigenous peoples, including the Lokono, Kalina, and Wayana, long before Europeans arrived. The Dutch controlled much of the area by the late 17th century and built a plantation colony that relied on African slave labour. Slavery was abolished in 1863, and later, indentured servants came from places like British India and the Dutch East Indies. Suriname became independent from the Netherlands on 25 November 1975.

Today, Suriname is a diverse nation with strong ties to its colonial past. Dutch is the official language, but many people also speak Sranan Tongo, an English-based creole language, and English. The country is known for its cultural variety and natural resources like bauxite, gold, petroleum, and agricultural products. Suriname is a member of groups such as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the United Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the Organization of American States.

Etymology

The name Suriname might come from an Indigenous group called the Surinen, who lived in the area when Europeans first arrived. The ending "-ame" is common in names of rivers and places in the country. It may mean "river" or "creek mouth" in the Lokono language, which is an Arawakan language spoken there.

Early European explorers and maps used different spellings of the name. For example, one writer in the 1600s called the river "Shurinama," while others used "Surinamo" or "Surrenant." Over time, the spelling changed, and today the country is known as Suriname. Even though the official English name changed from "Surinam" to "Suriname" in 1978, you might still hear the older spelling used in some places.

History

Main article: History of Suriname

Pre-colonial

People have lived in Suriname since around 3,000 BC. The largest groups were the Lokono, a tribe that moved along the coast, hunting and fishing. The Carib also arrived and took over the Lokono using better ships. They settled at the mouth of the Marowijne River in a place called Galibi. Smaller groups lived deeper in the rainforest, such as the Akurio, Trió, Warao, and Wayana.

Colonial period

Main articles: Surinam (English colony) and Surinam (Dutch colony)

In the 1500s and 1600s, explorers from France, Spain, and England visited the area. Later, Dutch and English settlers started farms along the rivers. The first farm was an English settlement called Marshall's Creek along the Suriname River. Another English farm, Surinam, existed from 1650 to 1667.

Jews began arriving in the 1600s after leaving Spain and Portugal. They were allowed freedom to practice their religion and had their own courts. They owned many sugar farms and turned jungle land into farms. This changed in 1825.

The Dutch and English fought over the land. In 1667, the Dutch kept Suriname after signing a treaty, and the English kept a place called New York.

In 1683, a group called the Society of Suriname was formed to manage the land. Farms needed workers, so many African slaves were brought to grow crops like sugar and coffee. Life for slaves was very hard, and many tried to escape.

Runaway slaves, with help from local rainforest people, created their own communities called Maroons. These groups included the Saramaka, Paramaka, Ndyuka, Kwinti, Aluku, and Matawai. They sometimes attacked farms but also made peace with the Dutch, who let them live independently.

Abolition of slavery

Further information: Human rights in Suriname

The Netherlands ended slavery in Suriname in 1863. Former slaves had to work for ten more years with little pay before being fully free in 1873. Many moved to the capital city, Paramaribo. Some bought their old farms.

To replace slave labour, workers came from places like the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) and India. A few also came from China and the Middle East.

Decolonization

See also: Decolonization of the Americas and Suriname in World War II

During World War II, the United States sent soldiers to protect important mines. In 1954, Suriname became part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Full independence came in 1975 after talks with the Dutch government.

Independence

Johan Ferrier became the first president, with Henck Arron as prime minister. Many people left Suriname for the Netherlands, worried about the future.

1980 military coup

Main article: 1980 Surinamese coup d'état

In 1980, a group of soldiers led by Dési Bouterse took control of the government. There were several attempts to stop them, but the leaders of these attempts were removed.

Civil war, elections, and constitution

The army fought against Maroons led by Ronnie Brunswijk starting in 1986. This civil war caused many people to leave Suriname.

Elections were held in 1987, and a new constitution allowed Bouterse to keep control of the army. He dismissed leaders by phone in 1990, called the "Telephone Coup". His influence lessened after elections in 1991.

At the 1988 Summer Olympics, Suriname won its first Olympic medal when Anthony Nesty took gold in the 100-metre butterfly.

21st century

In 2002, the historic center of Paramaribo became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In 2010, Bouterse became president again. He had been accused of serious crimes but was granted protection from these charges. He was later found responsible for these crimes and sentenced to prison in 2019.

After the 2020 elections, Chan Santokhi became president, elected without opposition and sworn in during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In July 2025, Jennifer Geerlings-Simons became Suriname’s first woman president.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Suriname

Suriname is the smallest independent country in South America. It lies mostly between latitudes 1° and 6°N, and longitudes 54° and 58°W. The country has two main areas. The northern part, near the coast, has been farmed and most people live there. The southern part is covered with tropical rainforest and has wide, empty grasslands near the border with Brazil, making up about 80% of the land.

Suriname has two main mountain ranges: the Bakhuys Mountains and the Van Asch Van Wijck Mountains. The highest mountain is Julianatop, which stands at 1,286 metres (4,219 ft) above sea level.

Main article: Borders of Suriname

Suriname is located between French Guiana to the east and Guyana to the west. Its southern border is with Brazil, and its northern border is the Atlantic coast.

Suriname has a hot and wet tropical climate, with temperatures staying roughly the same all year. The country has two wet seasons and two dry seasons. Because of its many forests, Suriname helps protect the environment and has been working to keep its forests healthy.

Main article: Biodiversity in Suriname

Suriname has many different plants and animals because of its many habitats. There are national parks and nature reserves, including the Central Suriname Nature Reserve, which is a place of special importance for nature. These areas help keep the country's forests and wildlife safe.

Government and politics

Main article: Politics of Suriname

The Republic of Suriname is a representative democratic republic. It has a unicameral National Assembly with 51 members who are elected for five years.

The president of Suriname is chosen by the National Assembly for a five-year term. The president leads the government and appoints a cabinet of ministers. There is also a vice president who helps the president.

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of Suriname

Suriname has close ties with the Netherlands because of its history as a Dutch colony. It also works with the United States, the European Union, and other countries in the region. Suriname is part of groups like The Forum of Small States (FOSS) and has agreements with countries such as Barbados, China, and Brazil for cooperation in areas like infrastructure, education, and trade.

Military

Main article: Military of Suriname

Suriname has an army, air force, and navy. The president is the top leader of the armed forces, with help from the minister of defence and the commander of the forces.

Administrative divisions

Main articles: Districts of Suriname and Resorts of Suriname

The country is divided into ten districts, each led by a commissioner chosen by the president. Each district is further split into smaller areas called resorts.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Suriname

Suriname's democracy became stronger after the 1990s, and its economy changed to be less dependent on help from the Netherlands. Bauxite mining, which is aluminium ore, used to bring in a lot of money until 2015. But when a big company named Alcoa stopped mining bauxite, this part of the economy ended.

Today, finding and using oil and gold helps Suriname be more independent economically. Farming, especially growing rice and bananas, is still important. Ecotourism, which means people visiting natural areas, is also creating new opportunities. Over 93% of Suriname is covered in rainforest, making it a special place.

The Central Suriname Nature Reserve was established in 1998 and became a World Heritage Site in 2000, showing Suriname's commitment to protecting its natural resources.

Gold has become a big part of Suriname's exports, making up 60–80% of all earnings from exports. In 2021, the gold industry was 8.5% of the country's GDP. Oil also adds about 10% to the GDP. Other important exports include rice, bananas, and shrimp. Suriname has started to use more of its oil and gold reserves. Many people work in farming, and the economy relies a lot on trade with countries like Switzerland, China, the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, and nearby Caribbean nations.

Tourism

Most visitors come to Suriname to see the amazing biodiversity of the Amazonian rainforests. The Central Suriname Nature Reserve and Brownsberg Nature Park are very popular. There are also many waterfalls, like Raleigh Falls and Blanche Marie Falls, and special nature reserves around Tafelberg Mountain.

Suriname has many different types of natural areas protected by law. Around 30% of the land is set aside as reserves. There are also interesting places like old plantations and villages where people can learn about local cultures.

Transportation

Suriname, like its neighbor Guyana, drives on the left side of the road, even though many cars can drive on either side. The country has many small airports, but only one, Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport, can handle large airplanes.

Airlines that fly to and from Suriname include American Airlines, Blue Wing Airlines, Gum Air, Fly All Ways, and Surinam Airways, among others. There are also several smaller companies that offer special flight services.

Demographics

In 2022, Suriname had a population of about 624,900 people, according to the United Nations. This is more than the 541,638 people counted in the 2012 census. Suriname’s people come from many different backgrounds, so no one group is bigger than the others. This mix comes from many years of Dutch rule, when people from many countries and cultures came to live there.

Largest cities

The capital city, Paramaribo, is the biggest urban area. It has almost half of the country’s people and most of the people who live in cities. Most towns are either in or near Paramaribo or along the coast, where about 90% of all Surinamese live. Paramaribo is much bigger than the next nine cities put together.

Ethnicity

The biggest group of people in Suriname are Asian Surinamese, making up about 43% of the population. The largest part of this group are Indo-Surinamese, also called Hindustanis, who are more than a quarter of the country (27.4%). Most of them are descendants of people who were brought from Northern India and Nepal in the 1800s to work.

The second biggest group are Afro-Surinamese, around 37.4% of the population. This group is usually split into two smaller groups: the Creoles and the Maroons. Surinamese Maroons are people whose ancestors escaped from slavery and went to live in the jungle. They make up 21.7% of the population and are split into six tribes: Ndyuka, Saramaccans, Paramaccans, Kwinti, Aluku, and Matawai. Surinamese Creoles, who have mixed African and European (mostly Dutch or Jews) ancestors, make up 15.7% of the population.

Javanese people, who come from the island of Java in Indonesia, make up 14% of the population. Like the East Indians, most of their ancestors were brought to work in the 1800s.

About 13.4% of the population is from mixed ethnic backgrounds. Chinese people, who also came to work in the 1800s, make up 7.3% of the population.

Other groups include Lebanese, Jews, and various indigenous peoples such as the Akurio, Lokono, Kalina, Tiriyó, and Wayana. They make up about 3.7% of the population and live mainly in areas like Paramaribo, Wanica, Para, Marowijne, and Sipaliwini. A small number of Europeans, mostly of Dutch descent, make up about 1% of the population.

Recently, Suriname has had new immigrants from Brazil, Haiti, and more Chinese people, many of whom work in gold mining. Most of these newcomers do not have official permission to live there.

Emigration

Before Suriname became independent in 1975, many people chose to become either Surinamese or Dutch citizens. This led to many people moving to the Netherlands. This movement continued after independence, especially during the 1980s when there was military rule, and for economic reasons into the 1990s. By 2013, about 350,300 people from Suriname were living in the Netherlands, including children and grandchildren of those who moved.

According to the International Organization for Migration, around 272,600 people from Suriname lived in other countries in the late 2010s. Most lived in the Netherlands (about 192,000), with others in France (especially French Guiana), the United States, Guyana, Aruba, and Canada.

Languages

Suriname has about 14 local languages, but the only official language is Dutch (Nederlands), used in schools, government, business, and news. Over 60% of people speak Dutch as their first language, and 20%–30% speak it as a second language. In 2004, Suriname joined the Dutch Language Union.

Suriname is one of three countries where Dutch is the main language (the others are the Netherlands and Belgium). It is also the only place in the Americas where most people speak Dutch. In the Dutch Caribbean, other languages are more common.

In Paramaribo, Dutch is the main language at home for two-thirds of families. In parts of the country’s interior, especially in Sipaliwini and Brokopondo, local languages are more common than Dutch.

Sranan Tongo, a local language based on English, is widely used in everyday life and business. It is often used instead of Dutch, depending on how formal the situation is. Dutch is seen as more formal, while Sranan Tongo is the common way to talk.

Sarnami Hindustani, a language from India, is the third most used language. It is mainly spoken by people whose ancestors came from India.

The six Maroon languages are also based on English and include Saramaccan, Aukan, Aluku, Paramaccan, Matawai, and Kwinti.

Surinamese-Javanese is spoken by people whose ancestors came from Java in Indonesia.

Amerindian languages include Akurio, Lokono, Carib-Kari'nja, Sikiana-Kashuyana, Tiro-Tiriyó, Waiwai, Warao, and Wayana.

Hakka is spoken by people whose ancestors came from China. Cantonese and Mandarin are spoken by more recent Chinese immigrants.

English, Guyanese English Creole, Portuguese, Spanish, French, and French Guianese Creole are spoken near the borders with other countries. English is spoken by most people.

Religion

Main article: Religion in Suriname

Religion in Suriname (2012 census)

1. Protestantism (26.7%)
2. Catholic (21.6%)
3. Jehovah's Witnesses (1.20%)
4. Hinduism (22.3%)
5. Islam (13.9%)
6. Winti (1.80%)
7. Kejawen (0.80%)
8. Other religion (0.90%)
9. None (7.50%)
10. Not stated (3.20%)

Suriname’s religious groups are very mixed, showing the country’s many different cultures.

According to the 2012 census, about 48.4% of Surinamese people were Christians. Of these, 26.7% were Protestants, including 11.18% Pentecostal, 11.16% Moravian, 0.7% Reformed, and 3.7% other Protestant groups. 21.6% were Catholics.

Hinduism is the second largest religion, making up 22.3% of the population. Almost all Hindu people in Suriname are from the Indo-Surinamese group. Suriname has the third largest proportion of Hindus in the Western Hemisphere, after Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.

Islam is practiced by 13.9% of the population, the highest proportion in the Americas. Most Muslim Surinamese are of Javanese or Indian descent.

Other religions include Winti, practiced mostly by Maroons, Javanism, and various indigenous traditions often mixed with larger religions like Christianity.

Health

Main article: Health in Suriname

The Global Burden of Disease Study gives information about health in Suriname. In 2017, the number of deaths for every 100,000 people was 793. This is lower than in Haiti but higher than in Bermuda. In 1990, the number was 960.

In 2017, people in Suriname lived about 72 years on average.

Education

Main article: Education in Suriname

Education in Suriname is required until age 12. In 2004, about 94% of children went to primary school. Reading and writing are common, especially among men.

The main university is the Anton de Kom University of Suriname.

Schooling in Suriname has 13 grades. The first six grades are elementary school, the next four are middle school, and the last three are high school. At the end of elementary school, students take a test to see if they will go to a secondary modern school or a lower-level middle school.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Suriname

See also: Music of Suriname

Because Suriname has many different cultures, it celebrates many special days and festivals.

National holidays

• 1 January – New Year's Day
• January/February – Chinese New Year
• March (varies) – Phagwah
• March/April – Good Friday
• March/April – Easter
• March/April – Easter Monday
• 1 May – Labour Day
• 5 June - Indian Arrival Day (Prawas Din)
• 1 July – Ketikoti (Emancipation Day – end of slavery)
• 9 August – Indigenous People's Day and Javanese Arrival Day
• 10 October – Day of the Maroons
• 20 October - Chinese Arrival Day
• 25 November – Independence Day
• 25 December – Christmas
• 26 December – Boxing Day
• 1 Muharram – Islamic New Year/Satu Suro
• 1 Shawwal – Eid-ul-Fitr
• 10 Dhu al-Hijjah – Eid-ul-Adha
• Varies – Diwali

There are several Hindu and Islamic holidays like Diwali, Phagwa, and Eid-ul-adha. These holidays do not have fixed dates on the calendar, as they are based on the Hindu and Islamic calendars. Suriname also celebrates special days that mark when people from India, Java, and China first arrived in the country.

New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve in Suriname is called Oud jaar, Owru Yari, or "old year". Firecrackers called pagaras with long ribbons attached are set off at midnight.

Media

Traditionally, De Ware Tijd was the main newspaper of the country, but since the '90s Times of Suriname, De West and Dagblad Suriname have also been popular newspapers. All publish primarily in Dutch.

Suriname has twenty-four radio stations, most of them also broadcast through the Internet. There are twelve television channels: ABC (Ch. 4–1, 2), RBN (Ch. 5–1, 2), Rasonic TV (Ch. 7), STVS (Ch. 8–1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6), Apintie (Ch. 10–1), ATV (Ch. 12–1, 2, 3, 4), Radika (Ch. 14), SCCN (Ch. 17–1, 2, 3), Pipel TV (Ch. 18–1, 2), Trishul (Ch. 20–1, 2, 3, 4), Garuda (Ch. 23–1, 2, 3), Sangeetmala (Ch. 26), Ch. 30, Ch. 31, Ch.32, Ch.38, SCTV (Ch. 45). Also listened to is mArt, a broadcaster from Amsterdam founded by people from Suriname. Kondreman is one of the popular cartoons in Suriname.

There are also three major news sites: Starnieuws, Suriname Herald, and GFC Nieuws.

In 2022, Suriname ranked 52nd in the worldwide Press Freedom Index by the organization Reporters Without Borders, a strong drop in the ranking compared to the 2018–2021 period (about location 20).

Sports

The most popular sport in Suriname is football, followed by basketball and volleyball. The Suriname Olympic Committee is the national governing body for sports in Suriname. The major mind sports are chess, draughts, bridge and troefcall.

Many Suriname-born football players and Dutch-born football players of Surinamese descent have turned out to play for the Dutch national team, including Gerald Vanenburg, Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard, Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf, Patrick Kluivert, Aron Winter, Ryan Babel, Georginio Wijnaldum, Virgil van Dijk, and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Donyell Malen, Xavi Simons, Ryan Gravenberch, and Denzel Dumfries. In 1999, Humphrey Mijnals, who played for both Suriname and the Netherlands, was elected Surinamese footballer of the century. Another famous player is André Kamperveen, who captained Suriname in the 1940s and was the first Surinamese to play professionally in the Netherlands.

In 2021 Suriname participated in their first CONCACAF Gold Cup where they played against Costa Rica, Jamaica and Guadeloupe in Group C. Suriname lost its first two matches against Jamaica and Costa Rica, but ended third in the group following a 2–1 win against Guadeloupe.

Swimmer Anthony Nesty is the only Olympic medalist for Suriname. He won gold in the 100-meter butterfly at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul and he won bronze in the same discipline at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, he now lives in Gainesville, Florida, and is the head coach of the University of Florida swim team.

The most famous international track & field athlete from Suriname is Letitia Vriesde, who won a silver medal at the 1995 World Championships behind Ana Quirot in the 800 metres, the first medal won by a South American female athlete in World Championship competition. In addition, she also won a bronze medal at the 2001 World Championships and won several medals in the 800 and 1500 metres at the Pan-American Games and Central American and Caribbean Games. Tommy Asinga also received acclaim for winning a bronze medal in the 800 metres at the 1991 Pan American Games.

Cricket is popular in Suriname to some extent, influenced by its popularity in the Netherlands and in neighbouring Guyana. The Surinaamse Cricket Bond is an associate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Suriname and Argentina were the only ICC associate members in South America when ICC had a three tiered membership, although Guyana is represented on the West Indies Cricket Board, a full member. The national cricket team was ranked 47th in the world and sixth in the ICC Americas region as of June 2014, and competes in the World Cricket League (WCL) and ICC Americas Championship. Iris Jharap, born in Paramaribo, played women's One Day International matches for the Dutch national side, the only Surinamese to do so.

In the sport of badminton, another popular sport in Suriname especially with the youth, the local heroes are Virgil Soeroredjo, Mitchel Wongsodikromo, Sören Opti and also Crystal Leefmans. All winning medals for Suriname at the Carebaco Caribbean Championships, the Central American and Caribbean Games (CACSO Games) and also at the South American Games, better known as the ODESUR Games. Virgil Soeroredjo also participated for Suriname at the 2012 London Summer Olympics, only the second badminton player, after Oscar Brandon, for Suriname to achieve this. National Champion Sören Opti became the third Surinamese badminton player to participate at the Summer Olympics in 2016.

Multiple time K-1 kickboxing world champions Ernesto Hoost and Remy Bonjasky were born in Suriname or are of Surinamese descent. Other kickboxing world champions include Gilbert Ballantine, Rayen Simson, Melvin Manhoef, Tyrone Spong, Andy Ristie, Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Regian Eersel, and Donovan Wisse.

Suriname also has a national korfball team, with korfball being a Dutch sport. Vinkensport is also practised.

In 2016, the Sports Hall of Fame Suriname was established in the building of the Suriname Olympic Committee and is dedicated to the achievements of the Surinamese sporters.