Suriname: Statistical Overview

Total Population: 634,431

Natural Increase: 0.9%

Density: 4 Inhabitants/km²

Urban Population: 66.5%

Ethnic Origins: Hindustani (also known locally as 'East Indians', descendants from northern Indians) represent about 27% of the population, 'Maroons' (descendants from Africans) 22%, with Creole (mixed European and Afro-Americans) representing about 16%, Javanese 14%, mixed people 13%, Amerindians 4%, Chinese 2% other ethnic groups (including Europeans) about 2%. (Statistics Office of Suriname)

Official Language: Dutch

Other Languages Spoken: English, Sranang Tongo, Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese, and others.

Business Language(s): English

Religion: Protestant 23.6%, 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%

Literacy Rate: 89.6%

Area: 163,820 km²

Type of State: Presidential republic.

Type of Economy: Variable-income, mixed economy based on resources and services..
Suriname's economy is recovering, driven by bauxite and gold exports, although it faces challenges from high inflation and heavy debt.

HDI*: 0.722/1

HDI (World Rank): 116/192

Telephone Code:
To call from Suriname, dial 00
To call Suriname, dial +597

Internet Suffix: .sr

Households with a computer: 36.7 per 100 Inhabitants

Telephone Lines: 15.5 per 100 Inhabitants

Internet Users: 78.4 per 100 Inhabitants

Access to Electricity: 99.6% of the Population