Suriname was inhabited as early as the fourth millennium BC by variousindigenous peoples, including theArawaks,Caribs, andWayana. Europeans arrived and contested the area in the 16th century, with theDutch controlling much of the country's current territory by the late 17th century. UnderDutch rule, Suriname was a lucrativeplantation colony focused mostly onsugar; its economy was driven byAfrican slave labour until the abolition of slavery in 1863, after whichindentured servants were recruited mostly fromBritish India and theDutch East Indies. In 1954, Suriname became aconstituent country of theKingdom of the Netherlands. On 25 November 1975, it becameindependent following negotiations with the Dutch government. Suriname continues to maintain close diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties with the Netherlands.
Suriname's culture and society strongly reflect the legacy of Dutch colonial rule. It is the only sovereign nation outside Europe whereDutch is the official and prevailing language of government, business, media, and education;[16] an estimated 60% of the population speaks Dutch as a native language.[17]Sranan Tongo, an English-basedcreole language, is a widely usedlingua franca. Most Surinamese are descendants of slaves and indentured labourers brought fromAfrica andAsia by the Dutch. Suriname is highly diverse, with no ethnic group forming a majority; proportionally, its Muslim and Hindu populations are some of the largest in the Americas. Most people live along the northern coast, centered around Paramaribo, making Surinameone of the least densely populated countries on Earth.
The nameSuriname may derive from an indigenous people calledSurinen, who inhabited the area at the time of European contact.[18] The suffix -ame, common in Surinamese river and place names (see also theCoppename River), may come fromaima oreima, meaning river or creek mouth, inLokono, anArawak language spoken in the country.[19]
The earliest European sources give variants of "Suriname" as the name of theriver on which colonies were eventually founded.Lawrence Kemys wrote in hisRelation of the Second Voyage to Guiana of passing a river called "Shurinama" as he travelled along the coast. In 1598, a fleet of three Dutch ships visiting the Wild Coast mention passing the river "Surinamo". In 1617, a Dutch notary spelled the name of the river on which a Dutch trading post had existed three years earlier as "Surrenant".[20]
British settlers, who in 1630 founded the first European colony at Marshall's Creek along the Suriname River, spelled the name "Surinam"; this would long remain the standard spelling in English.[21] The Dutch navigatorDavid Pietersz. de Vries wrote of travelling up the "Sername" river in 1634 until he encountered the English colony there; the terminal vowel remained in future Dutch spellings and pronunciations. The river was calledSoronama in a 1640 Spanish manuscript entitled "General Description of All His Majesty's Dominions in America". In 1653, instructions given to a British fleet sailing to meetLord Willoughby inBarbados, which at the time was the seat of English colonial government in the region, again spelled the name of the colonySurinam. A 1663 royal charter said the region around the river was "called Serrinam also Surrinam".[20]
As a result of theSurrinam spelling, 19th-century British sources offered the folk etymologySurryham, saying it was the name given to the Suriname River by Lord Willoughby in the 1660s in honour of theDuke of Norfolk and Earl of Surrey when an Englishcolony was established under a grant from KingCharles II.[20] This folk etymology can be found repeated in later English-language sources.[22][23]
When the territory was taken over by the Dutch, it became part of a group of colonies known asDutch Guiana. The official spelling of the country's English name was changed from "Surinam" to "Suriname" in January 1978, but "Surinam" can still be found in English, such asSurinam Airways and theSurinam toad. The older English name is reflected in the English pronunciation,/ˈsjʊərɪnæm,-nɑːm/. InDutch, the official language of Suriname, the pronunciation is[ˌsyːriˈnaːmə], with aschwa terminal vowel and the main stress on the third syllable.
Indigenous settlement of Suriname dates back to 3,000 BC. The largest tribes were theArawak, a nomadic coastal tribe that lived from hunting and fishing. They were the first inhabitants in the area. TheCarib also settled in the area and conquered the Arawak by using their superior sailing ships. They settled in Galibi (Kupali Yumï, meaning "tree of the forefathers") at the mouth of theMarowijne River. While the larger Arawak and Carib tribes lived along the coast and savanna, smaller groups of indigenous people lived in the inland rainforest, such as theAkurio,Trió,Warao, andWayana.
Beginning in the 16th century,French,Spanish andEnglish explorers visited the area. A century later,Dutch andEnglish settlers establishedplantation colonies along the many rivers in the fertile Guiana plains. The earliest documented colony inGuiana was an English settlement named Marshall's Creek along the Suriname River.[21] After that, there was another short-lived English colony calledSurinam that lasted from 1650 to 1667.
Disputes arose between the Dutch and the English for control of this territory. In 1667, during negotiations leading to theTreaty of Breda after theSecond Anglo-Dutch War, the Dutch decided to keep the nascent plantation colony of Surinam they had gained from the English. In return the English keptNew Amsterdam, the main city of the former colony ofNew Netherland in North America on the mid-Atlantic coast. The British renamed itNew York, after theDuke of York who would later become KingJames II of England.[24]
In 1683, theSociety of Suriname was founded by the city ofAmsterdam, theVan Aerssen van Sommelsdijck family, and theDutch West India Company. The society was chartered to manage and defend the colony. The planters of the colony relied heavily onAfrican slaves to cultivate, harvest and process the commodity crops of coffee, cocoa, sugar cane and cotton plantations along the rivers. Planters' treatment of the slaves was notoriously brutal even by the standards of the time[25]—historianC. R. Boxer wrote that "man's inhumanity to man just about reached its limits in Surinam"[26]—and many slaves escaped the plantations. In November 1795, the Society was nationalized by theBatavian Republic and from then on the Batavian Republic and its legal successors (the Kingdom of Holland and the Kingdom of the Netherlands) governed the territory as a national colony – barring two periods of British occupation, between 1799 and 1802, and between 1804 and 1816.
With the help of thenative South Americans living in the adjoining rain forests, runaway slaves established a new and unique culture in the interior that was highly successful in its own right. They were known collectively in English asMaroons, in French asNèg'Marrons (literally meaning "brown negroes", that is "pale-skinned negroes"), and in Dutch asMarrons. The Maroons gradually developed several independent tribes through a process ofethnogenesis, as they were made up of slaves from different African ethnicities. These tribes include theSaramaka,Paramaka,Ndyuka or Aukan,Kwinti,Aluku or Boni, andMatawai.
The Maroons often raided plantations to recruit new members from the slaves and capture women, as well as to acquire weapons, food, and supplies. They sometimes killed planters and their families in the raids. Colonists built defenses, which were significant enough that they were shown on 18th-century maps.[27]
The colonists also mounted armed campaigns against the Maroons, who generally escaped through the rainforest, which they knew much better than the colonists did. To end hostilities, in the 18th century, the European colonial authorities signed several peace treaties with different tribes. They granted the Maroons sovereign status and trade rights in their inland territories, giving them autonomy.
From 1861 to 1863, with theAmerican Civil War underway, and enslaved people escaping to Northern territory controlled by theUnion, United States PresidentAbraham Lincoln andhis administration looked abroad for places to relocate people who were freed fromenslavement and who wanted to leave the United States. It opened negotiations with the Dutch government regarding African American emigration to and colonization of theDutch colony of Suriname. Nothing came of the idea, which was dropped after 1864.[28]
The Netherlands abolished slavery in Suriname in 1863, under a gradual process that required slaves to work on plantations for 10 transition years for minimal pay, which was considered as partial compensation for their masters. After that transition period expired in 1873, mostfreedmen largely abandoned the plantations where they had worked for several generations in favor of the capital city,Paramaribo. Some of them were able to purchase the plantations they worked on, especially in the district of Para and Coronie. Their descendants still live on those grounds today. Several plantation owners did not pay their former enslaved workers the pay they owed them for the ten years following 1863. They paid the workers with the property rights of the ground of the plantation in order to escape their debt to the workers.[29]
Javanese immigrants brought as contract workers from theDutch East Indies. Picture was taken between 1880 and 1900.
As a plantation colony, Suriname had an economy dependent on labor-intensive commodity crops. To make up for a shortage of labor, the Dutch recruited and transported contract orindentured laborers from theDutch East Indies (modern Indonesia) and India (the latter through an arrangement with the British, who then ruled the area). In addition, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, small numbers of laborers, mostly men, were recruited from China and the Middle East.
Although Suriname's population remains relatively small, because of this complex colonization and exploitation, it is one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse countries in the world.[30][31]
DuringWorld War II, on 23 November 1941, under an agreement with theNetherlands government-in-exile, the United States sent 2,000 soldiers to Suriname to protect thebauxite mines to support the Allies' war effort.[32][33] In 1942, the Dutch government-in-exile began to review the relations between the Netherlands and its colonies in terms of the post-war period.[34]
In 1954, Suriname became one of the constituent countries of theKingdom of the Netherlands, along with theNetherlands Antilles and the Netherlands. In this construction, the Netherlands retained control of its defense and foreign affairs. In 1974, the local government, led by theNational Party of Suriname (NPS) (whose membership was largelyCreole, meaning ethnically African or mixed African-European), started negotiations with the Dutch government leading towards full independence; in contrast toIndonesia's earlierwar for independence from the Netherlands, the path toward Suriname's independence had been an initiative of thethen left-wing Dutch government. Independence was granted on 25 November 1975. A large part of Suriname's economy for the first decade following independence was fueled by foreign aid provided by the Dutch government.
The first President of the country wasJohan Ferrier, the former governor, withHenck Arron (the then leader of the NPS) as Prime Minister. In the years leading up to independence, nearly one-third of the population of Suriname emigrated to the Netherlands, amidst concern that the new country would fare worse under independence than it had as a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Surinamese politics did degenerate into ethnic polarisation and corruption soon after independence, with the NPS using Dutch aid money for partisan purposes. Its leaders were accused of fraud in the1977 elections, in which Arron won a further term, and the discontent was such that a large portion of the population fled to the Netherlands, joining the already significant Surinamese community there.[35][36][37]
On 25 February 1980, amilitary coup overthrew Arron's government. It was initiated by a group of 16 sergeants, led byDési Bouterse.[16] Opponents of the military regime attempted counter-coups in April 1980, August 1980, 15 March 1981, and again on 12 March 1982. The first counter attempt was led byFred Ormskerk,[38] the second byMarxist-Leninists,[39] the third byWilfred Hawker, and the fourth bySurendre Rambocus.
Hawker escaped from prison during the fourth counter-coup attempt, but he was captured and summarily executed. Between 2 am and 5 am on 7 December 1982, the military, under Bouterse's leadership, rounded up 13 prominent citizens who had criticized the military dictatorship and held them atFort Zeelandia in Paramaribo.[40] The dictatorship had all these menexecuted over the next three days, along with Rambocus andJiwansingh Sheombar (who was also involved in the fourth counter-coup attempt).
National elections were held in 1987. The National Assembly adopted a new constitution that allowed Bouterse to remain in charge of the army. Dissatisfied with the government, Bouterse summarily dismissed the ministers in 1990, by telephone.[citation needed] This event became popularly known as the "Telephone Coup". His power began to wane after the 1991 elections.[citation needed]
The first half of 1999 was marked by non-violentnational protests against poor general economic and social conditions. By mid-year, the Netherlands tried Boutersein absentia on drug-smuggling charges. He was convicted and sentenced to prison but remained in Suriname.[42]
On 19 July 2010, Bouterse returned to power when he was elected as the president of Suriname.[43] Before his election in 2010, he, along with 24 others, had been charged with the murders of 15 prominent dissidents in theDecember murders. However, in 2012, two months before the verdict in the trial, the National Assembly extended itsamnesty law and provided Bouterse and the others with amnesty of these charges. He was reelected on 14 July 2015.[44] However, Bouterse was convicted by a Surinamese court on 29 November 2019 and given a 20-year sentence for his role in the 1982 killings.[45]
In February 2023, there were heavy protests against rising living costs in the capital Paramaribo. Protesters accused the government of President Chan Santokhi of corruption. They stormed the National Assembly, demanding the government to resign. However, the government condemned the protests.[50] In December 2024, Desi Bouterse, Suriname’s fugitive former president, died.[51]
In the elections held on Tuesday 25 May 2010, theMegacombinatie won 23 of the National Assembly seats, followed byNationale Front with 20 seats. A much smaller number, important for coalition-building, went to the "A-combinatie" and to theVolksalliantie. The parties held negotiations to form coalitions. Elections were held on 25 May 2015, and the National Assembly again elected Dési Bouterse as president.[52]
Thepresident of Suriname is elected for a five-year term by a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly. If at least two-thirds of the National Assembly cannot agree to vote for one presidential candidate, a People's Assembly is formed from all National Assembly delegates and regional and municipal representatives who were elected by popular vote in the most recent national election. The president may be elected by a majority of the People's Assembly called for the special election.
As head of government, the president appoints a sixteen-minister cabinet. A vice president is normally elected for a five-year term at the same time as the president, by a simple majority in the National Assembly or People's Assembly. There is no constitutional provision for removal or replacement of the president, except in the case of resignation.
The judiciary is headed by theHigh Court of Justice of Suriname (Supreme Court). This court supervises the magistrate courts. Members are appointed for life by the president in consultation with the National Assembly, the State Advisory Council, and the National Order of Private Attorneys.
Due to Suriname's Dutch colonial history, Suriname had a long-standing special relationship with the Netherlands.
In 1999, Dési Bouterse was convicted and sentencedin absentia in the Netherlands to 11 years of imprisonment for drug trafficking. He was the main suspect in the court case concerning the December murders, the 1982 assassination of opponents of military rule inFort Zeelandia, Paramaribo. He served as president between 2010 and 2020. These two cases still strain relations between the Netherlands and Suriname.[53]
The Dutch government stated during that time that it would maintain limited contact with the president.[53]
Bouterse was elected as president of Suriname in 2010. The Netherlands in July 2014 dropped Suriname as a member of its development program.[54]
Since 1991, the United States has maintained positive relations with Suriname. The two countries work together through theCaribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) and the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Suriname also receives military funding from the U.S. Department of Defense.[55]
European Union relations and cooperation with Suriname are carried out both on a bilateral and a regional basis. There are ongoing EU-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and EU-CARIFORUM dialogues. Suriname is party to theCotonou Agreement, the partnership agreement among the members of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States and the European Union.[57][9]
On 17 February 2005, the leaders ofBarbados and Suriname signed the "Agreement for the deepening of bilateral cooperation between the Government of Barbados and the Government of the Republic of Suriname."[58] On 23–24 April 2009, both nations formed a Joint Commission inParamaribo, Suriname, to improve relations and to expand into various areas of cooperation.[59] They held a second meeting toward this goal on 3–4 March 2011, in Dover, Barbados. Their representatives reviewed issues of agriculture, trade, investment, as well as international transport.[60]
In the late 2000s, Suriname intensified development cooperation with other developing countries. China's South-South cooperation with Suriname has included a number of large-scale infrastructure projects, including port rehabilitation and road construction. Brazil signed agreements to cooperate with Suriname in education, health, agriculture, and energy production.[61]
The Armed Forces of Suriname have three branches: the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy. The president of the Republic is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces (Opperbevelhebber van de Strijdkrachten). The president is assisted by the minister of defence. Beneath the president and minister of defence is the commander of the armed forces (Bevelhebber van de Strijdkrachten). The military branches and regional military commands report to the commander.
After the creation of theStatute of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, theRoyal Netherlands Army was entrusted with the defense of Suriname, while the defense of theNetherlands Antilles was the responsibility of theRoyal Netherlands Navy. The army set up a separateTroepenmacht in Suriname (Forces in Suriname, TRIS). Upon independence in 1975, this force was turned into theSurinaamse Krijgsmacht (SKM):, Surinamese Armed Forces. After the 1980 overthrow of the government, the SKM was rebranded as theNationaal Leger (NL), National Army.
In 1965, the Dutch and Americans used Suriname's Coronie site for multiple Nike Apachesounding rocket launches.[62]
The country is divided into ten administrative districts, each headed by a district commissioner appointed by the president, who also has the power of dismissal. Suriname is further subdivided into 62 resorts (ressorten).
Suriname is the smallest independent country in South America. Situated on theGuiana Shield, it lies mostly between latitudes1° and6°N, and longitudes54° and58°W. The country can be divided into two main geographic regions. The northern, lowland coastal area (roughly above the line Albina-Paranam-Wageningen) has been cultivated, and most of the population lives here. The southern part consists of tropicalrainforest and sparsely inhabitedsavanna along the border with Brazil, covering about 80% of Suriname's land surface.
The two main mountain ranges are theBakhuys Mountains and theVan Asch Van Wijck Mountains.Julianatop is the highest mountain in the country at 1,286 metres (4,219 ft) above sea level. Other mountains includeTafelberg at 1,026 metres (3,366 ft), MountKasikasima at 718 metres (2,356 ft), Goliathberg at 358 metres (1,175 ft) andVoltzberg at 240 metres (790 ft).
Lyingtwo tofive degrees north of theequator, Suriname has a very hot and wettropical climate, and temperatures do not vary much throughout the year. Average relative humidity is between 80% and 90%. Its average temperature ranges from 29 to 34 °C (84 to 93 °F). Due to the high humidity, actual temperatures are distorted and may therefore feel up to 6 °C (11 °F) hotter than the recorded temperature.
The year has twowet seasons, from April to August and from November to February. It also has twodry seasons, from August to November and February to April.
Leatherback sea turtle on the beach near the village of GalibiTheblue poison dart frog is endemic to Suriname.Share of forest area in total land area, top countries (2021). Suriname has the highest percentage of forest cover in the world.
Due to the variety of habitats and temperatures, biodiversity in Suriname is considered high.[69] In October 2013, 16 international scientists researching the ecosystems during a three-week expedition in Suriname'sUpper Palumeu River Watershed catalogued 1,378 species and found 60—including six frogs, one snake, and 11 fish—that may be previously unknown species.[70][71][72][73] According to the environmental non-profitConservation International, which funded the expedition, Suriname's ample supply of fresh water is vital to the biodiversity and healthy ecosystems of the region.[74]
Snakewood (Brosimum guianense), a tree, is native to this tropical region of the Americas. Customs in Suriname report that snakewood is often illegally exported to French Guiana, thought to be for the crafts industry.[75]
On 21 March 2013, Suriname's REDD+ Readiness Preparation Proposal (R-PP 2013) was approved by the member countries of the Participants Committee of theForest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF).[76]
As in other parts of Central and South America, indigenous communities have increased their activism to protect their lands and preserve habitat. In March 2015, the "Trio andWayana communities presented a declaration of cooperation to theNational Assembly of Suriname that announces an indigenous conservation corridor spanning 72,000 square kilometers (27,799 square miles) of southern Suriname. The declaration, led by these indigenous communities and with the support ofConservation International (CI) andWorld Wildlife Fund(WWF) Guianas, comprises almost half of the total area of Suriname.[77] This area includes large forests and is considered "essential for the country'sclimate resilience, freshwater security, and green development strategy."
Suriname's democracy gained some strength after the turbulent 1990s, and its economy became more diversified and less dependent on Dutch financial assistance.[citation needed]Bauxite (aluminium ore) mining used to be a strong revenue source, since before the independence of the country up to 2015. Because Alcoa stopped all bauxite operations, the bauxite era in Suriname also ended.[citation needed]
The discovery, exploration and exploitation of oil and gold nowadays contributes substantially to Suriname's economic independence. Agriculture, especially rice and bananas, remains a strong component of the economy, andecotourism is providing new economic opportunities. More than 93% of Suriname's landmass consists of unspoiled rainforest.[citation needed] With the establishment of theCentral Suriname Nature Reserve in 1998, Suriname signaled its commitment to the conservation of this precious resource. The Central Suriname Nature Reserve became aWorld Heritage Site in 2000.
Ministry of Finance
The economy of Suriname was dominated by the bauxite industry, which accounted for more than 15% of GDP and 70% of export earnings up to 2015. Currently gold exports make up 60-80% of all exports earnings. In 2021 the gold industry accounted for 8.5% of the GDP. The share of large-scale mining in total gold production is 58% compared to 42% of small-scale mining.[80] With an export value of US$1.83 billion in 2023, the gold sector makes an important contribution to the economy.[81] The gold production of Suriname in 2015 is 30 metric tonnes.[82]
The exploration and exploitation of oil adds substantially to the economy of Suriname at about 10% of the GDP.[83] The national oil company,STAATSOLIE, is the motor behind Suriname's oil industry. Their core business is oil extraction and refining. In 2022 they made a revenue of US$840 million. In that year their contribution to the state treasury was US$320 million.[84] In 2023 they made a revenue of US$722 million. The drop in revenue was because of the lower price for oil per barrel that year. Their contribution to the Surinamese state treasury was US$335 million.[85]
Other main export products include rice, bananas, andshrimp. Suriname has recently started exploiting some of its sizeableoil[86] and gold[87] reserves. About a quarter of the people work in the agricultural sector. The Surinamese economy is very dependent on commerce, its main trade partners being, Switzerland, China, the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, andCaribbean countries, mainlyTrinidad and Tobago and the islands of the formerNetherlands Antilles.[88]
After assuming power in the fall of 1996, theWijdenbosch government ended thestructural adjustment program of the previous government, claiming it was unfair to the poorer elements of society. Tax revenues fell as old taxes lapsed and the government failed to implement new tax alternatives. By the end of 1997, the allocation of new Dutch development funds was frozen as Surinamese Government relations with the Netherlands deteriorated. Economic growth slowed in 1998, with decline in the mining, construction, andutility sectors. Rampant government expenditures, poor tax collection, a bloated civil service, and reduced foreign aid in 1999 contributed to the fiscal deficit, estimated at 11% of GDP. The government sought to cover this deficit through monetary expansion, which led to a dramatic increase in inflation. It takes longer on average to register a new business in Suriname than virtually any other country in the world (694 days or about 99 weeks).[89]
Exports (2012): US$2.563 billion: alumina, gold, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas. Major consumers: US 26.1%, Belgium 17.6%, UAE 12.1%, Canada 10.4%, Guyana 6.5%, France 5.6%, Barbados 4.7%.[16]
Imports (2012): US$1.782 billion: capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods. Major suppliers: US 25.8%, Netherlands 15.8%, China 9.8%, UAE 7.9%, Antigua and Barbuda 7.3%, Netherlands Antilles 5.4%, Japan 4.2%.[16]
The population of Suriname from 1961 to 2003, in units of 1000. The slowdown and decline in population growth ~1969–1985 reflects a mass migration to the Netherlands and French Guiana.
In 2022, Suriname had a population of roughly 624,900 according to estimates by theUnited Nations.[90] This compares to 541,638 inhabitants from the 2012 census.[5] The Surinamese populace is characterized by high levels of diversity, wherein no particular demographic group constitutes a majority. This is a legacy of centuries of Dutch rule, which entailed successive periods of forced, contracted, or voluntary migration by various nationalities and ethnic groups from around the world.
Ethnic groups of Suriname (right) and Paramaribo (left)
The largest ethnic group areAsian Surinamese (about 43%), with the largest subgroup beingIndo-Surinamese, who form over a quarter of the population (27.4%).[1][92][93][94][95] The vast majority are descendants of 19th-centuryindentured workers fromNorthern India and SouthernNepal, hailing mostly from areas in theHindi Belt of modernBihar,Jharkhand andEastern Uttar Pradesh, and also theBengal region than consists of modernWest Bengal andBangladesh. If counted as one ethnic group, theAfro-Surinamese are the second largest community, at around 37.4%; however, they are usually divided into two cultural/ethnic groups: theCreoles and the Maroons. Surinamese Maroons, whose ancestors are mostly runaway slaves that fled to the interior, comprise 21.7% of the population. They are divided into six tribes:Ndyuka (Aucans),Saramaccans,Paramaccans,Kwinti,Aluku (Boni) andMatawai. SurinameseCreoles, mixed people descending from African slaves and Europeans (mostly Dutch), form 15.7% of the population.Javanese make up 14% of the population, and like the East Indians, descend largely from workers contracted from the island ofJava in the formerDutch East Indies (modernIndonesia).[96] 13.4% of the population identifies as being of mixed ethnic heritage.Chinese, originating from 19th-century indentured workers and some recent migration, make up 7.3% of the population.
More recently Suriname has seen a new wave of immigrants, namelyBrazilians,Haitians andChinese (many of them laborers mining for gold). Most do not have legal status.[97]
The option to choose between Surinamese or Dutch citizenship in the years leading up to Suriname's independence in 1975 led to a mass migration to the Netherlands. This migration continued in the period immediately after independence and during military rule in the 1980s and for largely economic reasons extended throughout the 1990s. TheSurinamese community in the Netherlands numbered 350,300 as of 2013[update] (including children and grandchildren of Suriname migrants born in the Netherlands), compared to approximately 566,000 Surinamese in Suriname itself.[16]
Synagogue and mosque adjacent to each other in Paramaribo
Suriname's religious makeup is heterogeneous and reflective of the country's multicultural character.[94] According toPew research from 2012, Christians are the largest religious community, at slightly over half the population (51.6%), followed byHindus (19.8%) andMuslims (15.2%); other religious minorities include adherents of various folk traditions (5.3%), Buddhists (<1%),Jews (<1%), practitioners of other faiths (1.8%), andunaffiliated (5.4%).[99][100]
Church of Sacred Heart in ParamariboArya Diwaker temple
According to the 2020 census, 52.3% of Surinamese were Christians; 26.7% wereProtestants (11.18%Pentecostal, 11.16%Moravian, 0.7%Reformed (includingRemonstrants), and 4.4% other Protestant denominations), while 21.6% wereCatholics.[7] Hindus are the second largest religious group in Suriname, comprising nearly one-fifth of the population (18.8% in 2020),[99] the third largest proportion of any country in the Western Hemisphere, afterGuyana andTrinidad and Tobago, both of which also have large proportions ofIndians. Likewise, almost all practitioners of Hinduism are found among the Indo-Surinamese population. Muslims constitute 14.3% of the population, the highest proportion of Muslims in the Americas. They are largely of Javanese or Indian descent.[7] Folk religions are practiced by 5.6% of the population and includeWinti, anAfro-American religion practiced mostly by those of Maroon ancestry,Javanism (0.8%),[7] a syncretic faith found among some Javanese Surinamese, and various indigenous folk traditions that are often incorporated into one of the larger religions (usually Christianity). In the 2020 census, 6.2% of the population declared they had "no religion", while a further 1.9% adhere to "other religions".[99]
Suriname has roughly 14 local languages, butDutch (Nederlands) is the sole official language and is the language used in education, government, business, and the media.[16] Over 60% of the population arenative speakers of Dutch[101] and around 20%–30% speak it as a second language. In 2004, Suriname became an associate member of theDutch Language Union.[102]
Suriname is one of three Dutch-speaking sovereign countries in the world (the others being theNetherlands andBelgium). It is also the only area in the Americas where Dutch is spoken by a majority of the population (as territories in theDutch Caribbean all have other majority languages). Finally, Suriname and English-speakingGuyana are the only countries inSouth America along with the English-speaking British dependent territory of theFalkland Islands where aRomance language does not predominate.
In Paramaribo, Dutch is the main home language in two-thirds of the households.[4] The recognition of"Surinaams-Nederlands" ("Surinamese Dutch") as a national dialect equal to"Nederlands-Nederlands" ("Dutch Dutch") and"Vlaams-Nederlands" ("Flemish Dutch") was expressed in 2009 by the publication of theWoordenboek Surinaams Nederlands (Surinamese–Dutch Dictionary).[103] It is the most commonly spoken language in urban areas. The local languages are only more predominant than Dutch in the interior of Suriname (namely parts ofSipaliwini andBrokopondo).
Sranan Tongo, a local English-basedcreole language, is the most widely usedvernacular language in daily life and business among the Surinamese. Together with Dutch, it is considered to be one of the two principal languages of Surinamesediglossia. Both are further influenced by other spoken languages which are spoken primarily within ethnic communities. Sranan Tongo is often used interchangeably with Dutch depending on the formality of the setting; Dutch is seen as aprestige dialect and Sranan Tongo the commonvernacular.[104]
The sixMaroon languages of Suriname are also considered English-based creole languages, and includeSaramaccan,Aukan,Aluku,Paramaccan,Matawai andKwinti. Aluku, Paramaccan, and Kwinti are so mutually intelligible with Aukan that they can be considered dialects of the Aukan language. The same can be said about Matawai, which is mutually intelligible with Saramaccan.
Hakka,Cantonese andHokkien are spoken by the descendants of the Chinese indentured labourers.Mandarin is spoken by the recent wave of Chinese immigrants.
The national capital, Paramaribo, is by far the dominant urban area, accounting for nearly half of Suriname's population and most of its urban residents. Indeed,its population is greater than the next nine largest cities combined. Most municipalities are located within the capital's metropolitan area, or along the densely populated coastline; about 90% of the population lives inParamaribo or on the coast.[105]
There are several holidays which are unique to Suriname. These include thePrawas Din (Indian), Javanese, and Chinese arrival days. They celebrate the arrival of the first ships with their respective immigrants.
New Year's Eve in Suriname is calledOud jaar,Owru Yari, or "old year".Firecrackers calledpagaras with long ribbons attached are detonated at midnight.[110]
In 2021Suriname participated in their firstCONCACAF 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.
In 2016, theSports Hall of Fame Suriname was established in the building of the Suriname Olympic Committee and is dedicated to the achievements of the Surinamese sporters.[115]
Suriname, along with neighboringGuyana, is one of only two countries on the mainland South American continent that drive on the left, although many vehicles are left-hand-drive as well as right-hand-drive.[116] One explanation for this practice is that at the time of its colonization of Suriname, the Netherlands itself used left-hand traffic, also introducing the practice in theDutch East Indies, nowIndonesia.[117] Another is that Suriname was first colonized by the British, and for practical reasons, this was not changed when it came under Dutch administration.[118] Although the Netherlands converted to driving to the right at the end of the 18th century,[117] Suriname did not.As of 2003, Suriname had 4303 km (2674 miles) of roads, of which 1119 km (695 miles) are paved.[119]
TheGlobal Burden of Disease Study provides an on-line data source for analyzing updated estimates of health for 359 diseases and injuries and 84 risk factors from 1990 to 2017 in most of the world's countries.[122] Comparing Suriname with other Caribbean nations show that in 2017 the age-standardizeddeath rate for all causes was 793 (males 969, females 641) per 100,000, far below the 1219 ofHaiti, somewhat below the 944 ofGuyana but considerably above the 424 ofBermuda. In 1990, the death rate was 960 per 100,000.Life expectancy in 2017 was 72 years (males 69, females 75). The death rate for children < 5 years was 581 per 100,000 compared to 1308 in Haiti and 102 in Bermuda. In 1990 and 2017, the leading causes of age-standardized death rates were cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes/chronic kidney disease.
Education in Suriname is compulsory until the age of 12,[123] and the nation had a net primary enrollment rate of 94% in 2004.[124]Literacy is very common, particularly among men.[124] The main university in the country is theAnton de Kom University of Suriname.
From elementary school to high school there are 13 grades. The elementary school has six grades, middle school four grades, and high school three grades. Students take a test at the end of elementary school to determine whether they will go to the MULO (secondary modern school) or a middle school of lower standards like LBO.
Suriname has twenty-four radio stations, most of them also broadcast through the Internet. There are twelve television sources: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 ismArt, 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 worldwidePress Freedom Index by the organizationReporters Without Borders,[126] a strong drop in the ranking compared to the 2018–2021 period (about location 20).
Most tourists visit Suriname for thebiodiversity of theAmazonian rain forests in the south of the country, which are noted for their flora and fauna. TheCentral Suriname Nature Reserve is the biggest and one of the most popular reserves, along with theBrownsberg Nature Park which overlooks theBrokopondo Reservoir, one of the largest human-made lakes in the world. In 2008, theBerg en Dal Eco & Cultural Resort opened in Brokopondo.[127]Tonka Island in the reservoir is home to a rusticeco-tourism project run by the Saramaccaner Maroons.[128]Pangi wraps and bowls made of calabashes are the two main products manufactured for tourists. The Maroons have learned that colorful and ornate pangis are popular with tourists.[129] Other popular decorative souvenirs are hand-carved purple-hardwood made into bowls, plates, canes, wooden boxes, and wall decors.
There are also many waterfalls throughout the country. Raleighvallen, orRaleigh Falls, is a 56,000-hectare (140,000-acre) nature reserve on theCoppename River, rich in bird life. Also are theBlanche Marie Falls on theNickerie River and theWonotobo Falls.Tafelberg Mountain in the centre of the country is surrounded by its own reserve – theTafelberg Nature Reserve – around the source of theSaramacca River, as is the Voltzberg Nature Reserve further north on the Coppename River at Raleighvallen. In the interior are manyMaroon andAmerindian villages, many of which have their own reserves that are generally open to visitors.
Suriname is one of the few countries in the world where at least one of eachbiome that the state possesses has been declared a wildlife reserve. Around 30% of the total land area of Suriname is protected by law as reserves.
Other attractions include plantations such asLaarwijk, which is situated along the Suriname River. This plantation can be reached only by boat via Domburg, in the north centralWanica District of Suriname.
Crime rates continue to rise in Paramaribo and armed robberies are not uncommon. According to the current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of the 2018 report's publication, Suriname has been assessed as Level 1: exercise normal precautions.[130]
TheJules Wijdenbosch Bridge is a bridge over the river Suriname between Paramaribo and Meerzorg in theCommewijne district. The bridge was built during the tenure of PresidentJules Albert Wijdenbosch (1996–2000) and was completed in 2000. The bridge is 52 metres (171 ft) high, and 1,504 metres (4,934 ft) long. It connects Paramaribo with Commewijne, a connection which previously could only be made by ferry. The purpose of the bridge was to facilitate and promote the development of the eastern part of Suriname. The bridge consists of two lanes (one lane each way) and is not accessible to pedestrians.
The construction of theSts. Peter and Paul Cathedral started on 13 January 1883. Before it became a cathedral it was a theatre. The theatre was built in 1809 and burned down in 1820.
Suriname is one of the few countries in the world wherea synagogue is located next toa mosque.[131]The two buildings are located next to each other in the centre of Paramaribo and have been known to share a parking facility during their respective religious rites, should they happen to coincide with one another.
A relatively new landmark is the HinduArya Diwaker temple in the Johan Adolf Pengelstraat inWanica, Paramaribo, which was inaugurated in 2001. A special characteristic of the temple is that it does not have images of the Hindu divinities, as they are forbidden in theArya Samaj, the Hindu movement to which the people who built the temple belong. Instead, the building is covered by many texts derived from the Vedas and other Hindu scriptures. The architecture makes the temple a tourist attraction.
^Suriname has been carbon negative since at least 2014.
^TheInternational Organization for Migration made a confusion regarding the number of Surinamese migrants living in French Guiana. Their number is already included in the number for France (24,753 at the time of writing), as can be seen here:données complémentaires.
^"Censusstatistieken 2012"(PDF).Algemeen Bureau voor de Statistiek in Suriname (General Statistics Bureau of Suriname). p. 76. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 29 June 2014.
^abBaynes, Thomas Spencer (1888).Encyclopædia Britannica: A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and General Literature, Volume XI (Ninth Edition—Popular Reprint ed.).In 1614, the states of Holland granted to any Dutch citizen a four years' monopoly of any harbour or place of commerce which he might discover in that region (Guiana). The first settlement, however, in Suriname (in 1630) was made by an Englishman, whose name is still preserved by Marshall's Creek.
^Menon, P.K. (October 1978). "International Boundaries: A Case Study of the Guyana-Surinam Boundary".The International and Comparative Law Quarterly.27 (4):738–768.doi:10.1093/iclqaj/27.4.738.JSTOR758476.
^Wilkie, Lieutenant-Colonel (1841).The United Service Journal and Naval and Military Magazine. p. 205.Coming from the south we pass Surinam, the original name of which was Surryham, so called after Lord Surry, in the time of Charles II., and since corrupted to Surinam.
^"Censusstatistieken 2012"(PDF).Algemeen Bureau voor de Statistiek in Suriname (General Statistics Bureau of Suriname). p. 76. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 29 June 2014.
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